thewildrabbit

It doesn't matter as this entire regime is more then likely lame duck anyway. No reason to fret over this years team. Changes are coming after this season like nothing we are used to seeing since the early 90's Bills.

Rex Ryan is one of those coaches who is brilliant at being a defensive coordinator, and a very mediocre head coach. In 2005 when Herman Edwards was fired, and so was the current GM Terry Bradway. (just a side note that Paul Hackett was the Jets OC under Edwards) New GM Mike Tannenbaum was hired, and he hired ex Patriots DC & Browns HC Eric Mangini. That regime lasted from 2006-2009. The Tannenbaum- Mangini era started out brilliantly as they drafted a LT & C with the first two picks, and were content to run the ball more then they threw it. first year 10-6. the next year they went 4-12 as the starting QB Chad Pennington was injured for 8 games. Mangini fired Hackett, and brought in new OC Brian Schotthenheimer, and that was the year of Brett Favre in New York. Apparently 9-7 in 2008 wasn't good enough for the owner so they fired Mangini, and hired Ryan. When Ryan took over in 2009 he inherited a team built by Eric Mangini, and Darrelle Revis was already there. The team drafted Mark Sanchez in 2009, and went 9-7 again with RB Thomas Jones. 393 attempts passing vs 607 attempts rushing. So clearly they wanted to run the ball, control the clock and win with running & defense. They went to the AFC Championship game with that 9-7 record 2010 the Jets brought in LaDainain Thomlinson to replace Thomas Jones, and still rushed more then they passes 525 attempts passing vs 534 attempts rushing,and the team went 11-5. Again AFC Championship game. Then in 2011 they forgot what made them a great playoff team, and started passing far more then running 540 attempts passing vs 443 rushing. QB Mark Sanchez was forced to shoulder more of the offense, and he didn't do so well. The defense also went from 5th to 20th in points allowed. 2012 the Jets fired GM Mike Tannenbaum, and hired new GM John Idzik. They also fired OC Brian Schottenheimer and hired ex Dolphin HC Tony Sparano. The team went 6-10, and the OC got the blame. His defense under Pettine #20th in points, #8th in yards. 2013 the Jets let Sparano go, and hired new OC Marty Mornhinwig who had been the Eagles OC under Andy Reid. The Jets went 8-8 last year. His defense 19th in points allowed, 11th in yards allowed. If the owner fired Eric Mangini after a 9-7 season. Should the losing continue Rex WILL be fired!! Currently the Jets are 1-6 with their only win against the Raiders. Stating that, they played both the Bronco's & Patriots very tough, and gave both those teams all they could handle. They will certainly give the Bills all they can handle with their D line. I'm kinda surprised the owner kept Ryan after the 2012 season. Bottom line is the Jets under Ryan forgot what made them a playoff team by pounding the rock, and controlling the clock. Plus, his defense just isn't what it was back in 2009 (#1 overall) 2010 (#3 overall). The Patriots are doing the very same thing in Bill Belicheat forgetting what helped him get to those super bowls, and win them. Brady, great defense. Then Clock killin Corey Dillon with 1635 rushing yards Anyway, would I want Rex Ryan as a head coach, hell no! Would I want him as my DC, hell yes!

Thanks for the link 26CornerBlitz. After listening to her it is apparent that she asked to Terry to acquire more cash just in case the team came up for sale, and it did. I get the distinct impression that the Bills will be her baby. She has had input with the Sabres in marketing, management and in the business side. While Terry has been more involved in the player, coaching side of things. While she said the Pegula family are football fans, and she said they are watching college football games on Saturday, and NFL games on Sunday, Monday,and Thursday. I got the impression she watches football while Terry watches hockey. She also said they lived in Buffalo in the 90's, and didn't realize the fans fear of the team leaving was so strong until they were in the process of buying the team. Sounds like the family hasn't been clued into the 14 years of losing. I think the Bills are in great hands, and these owners won't be meddling in the draft process, player acquisition or day to day football side of operations. This next part is just from my perspective in that they have stated they will hire a very knowledgeable consultant, and proceed from there. Then I'm thinking they will hire a president of football operations to oversee the football side. In any event current GM will soon no longer report to Russ Brandon, and will report directly to Kim Pegula. Awesome stuff.

Shouldn't someone besides the fans have asked that after this FO brought in Colin Brown for replacing Levitre, and the signing of Doug Legursky. I think that the goober Buddy Nix sold the rest of the FO a bill of goods that you can find good OG's in the later rounds, and OT's can easily be flipped inside to do a great job at OG. After all OG's are a dime a dozen according to some. I say this because he was the one spouting off that OT's can readily move inside if they don't work out at OT. Then you need to consider that Jauron drafted a center with a #1 pick, and an OG with a #2 pick. So this moronic philosophy came after Jauron. Good to know the team still has Nix employed as a consultant. Meanwhile Dallas & San Diego draft OG's with their first round picks, and their lines are now good enough to get them to the playoffs. The Buffalo Bills currently have three OG's on their roster that are the worst three in the NFL.

I think most here are missing the bigger picture that no QB is going to succeed in Buffalo with the current O line the way it is. Then with Hackett calling 40 passes a game, and only 20 rushes a game. The team has no solid run game, so I doubt Orton or any QB succeeds with him as OC. I think with new coaching, and an upgraded line that EJ should get another look. JMO. Saying lets fix the OG position around here is easy, and yet doesn't get fixed after two years of off seasons. Even as lame as Dick Jauron was he recognized that the interior of the line is important as he spent a 1st rounder on a center, and a 2nd on a OG. Recently tho, someone in the Org has it in their heads that OG's can be found in later rounds, and that OT's can simply move inside to play guard. How has that been working out?

I know I'd prefer someone with past success in the NFL as a head coach. I think its abundantly clear that some coaches get smarter as go along in their professions, and some guys don't. Its obvious Chan Gailey didn't, and never should have been hired as a HC when he was recently fired as an OC. You generally promote after some success, and not promote after failure. Gailey's line, you don't know, what you don't know... When you get 2x NFL HCing shots like Pete Carroll, and then go into college and win national championships it shows he was getting smarter. Plus, the man is brilliant in finding, developing young players for his defensive secondary. He started in the NFL as the Bills DB's coach. I think in Lovie Smith's case its crystal clear that the "Tampa two" defense the man likes to run doesn't work so well with ordinary players, and needs specific standouts at certain positions. One big reason why Jauron's defenses always stunk was because unlike Carroll, Jauron doesn't know the difference between a good player and his backside. A good choice for a new Bills HC would be "the chin", as the man knows how to evaluate players. Ex Steeler GM Tom Donahoe lost a power struggle to him at Pittsburgh.(Another dysfunctional hire that was fired as GM, and hired by Buffalo, and then promoted to president) The man knows everything thing there is to know about building a winning team. Who to hire as assistant coaches, and who he wants in the draft. The man was recently on CBS sports talking about building a top O line, run game to help support a young QB. Sounds perfect to me. Then there is Jim Harbaugh who is in constant battle with his current GM http://thebiglead.com/2014/09/25/chip-kelly-got-the-tight-end-jim-harbaugh-wanted-in-the-2013-draft-probably-because-of-trent-baalke/ http://thebiglead.com/2014/10/05/jay-glazer-says-theres-no-way-jim-harbaugh-returns-to-49ers-next-season/ There is talk that the NY Jets are looking at Harbaugh, and we know that the Dolphins already tried to hire him even when they still had another HC on the payroll. Chances are they fire Philbin after this season. Anyway, I think that the dysfunction that has embedded itself the last 14 years of hiring the wrong people by the franchise will be corrected with new ownership.

Flashes, really? Perhaps in his first year when he had Steven Jackson pounding the ball for him. His overall record is 18-30-1 That last line I bolded had me spitting coffee all over trying not to laugh so hard when I read it. The Bills O line is currently ranked as the worst in the league, and Hackett is probably the worst OC in the league. Dude, you are Hopeful! I do agree with the last part of your post tho Bradford simply doesn't look very promising to me, and he is more then likely ruined after 5 years on playing on bad teams, behind bad lines, with bad coaching. Sound familiar? In 2015 he will have played in 49 of 80 possible games over his five year career. The last two years he has played in only 7 games. I think I'll wait until we see who the Pegula's hire as a consultant, and then hear what he has to say before I put any credence into the idea of Bradford in Buffalo.

yea sure.. go stir somewhere else.

Sorry, his time is up with me. Way, way to many stupid mistakes made again this season so far. 40 passes a game the last 4 games, and they lost 3 out of 4. Pears at RG, really? I have no faith this HC could ever take a team to the playoffs. But, lets return to this after they lose to the Vikings or Jets, or both.

Guys, I think you can take anything Terry Pegula did with the Sabres, and throw it right out the window, as Kim will be the new CEO! If you read the link I provided it states that the Pegula's will hire a man with a great football knowledge background to help with the football decisions. No more ex baseball marketing guy guessing / helping with football decisions I can recall the impact that Chuck Knox had on the entire team, scouting dept. He made great decisions despite the ineptitude at the GM position. I'm feeling confidant that any future decisions will be proper intelligent choices. No more switching between the 3-4 & 4-3 defensive schemes constantly of the Gailey regime, and trying to obtain different players every year to fit the changing schemes. Or the bass ackwards hiring people that were fired at their last job as OC, then promoting them to HC. No more constantly drafting DB's & RBs with the #1 pick. Top 15 draft choices will play like should have been top 15 players. No more hiring mediocre college coaches who favor their cronies, and also hire inexperienced assistants . Lets throw 39 times in the next game while I deactivate a top WR so my buddy the special team coach can use that players spot on a scrub TE. No more asking retired chief scouts to do a job they are not qualified for, and become the teams general manager. Even now that goober is still a consultant with the team, and we wonder with the O line is so much worse now then it has been in the last 14 years. Yea, lets take an OT and throw him into the OG position, its always worked. You can always draft OG's in the later rounds...weakest position on the team by far!! Hopefully this new brain trust won't continually try and bring in other teams garbage for the OG position, and will find the team a top tight end. Then find a coaching staff that will help the young QB utilize him. I think any knowledgeable football person is going to look at this last off season and ask some serious questions. Like why spend two first round picks on a WR when you are not certain you already have a franchise QB? Then why let the coaching staff use the best offensive weapon on the team as a decoy? The team lost two 2015 players in that trade. Why bring in such a piece of trash like Chris Williams in the first place? Why not just draft an OG & TE with the first two picks in any order. Trade away the teams best WR for a 4th, and then trade that 4th for for a 4th string RB that is constantly inactive. While this FO has made some really good moves for the defensive side. I think they have made some seriously stupid mistakes on the offensive side, as a lot of 2013 off season mistakes continued right into 2014.. The OG position, Pears...really? Marrone keeping Nate Hackett after a failed year is like Chan Gailey keeping George Edwards more then one year. Whats is store for 2015? Another inept OC like Wannstedt was for the defense. They come out pass happy against one of the worst run defenses in the NFL, and the only bright spot on that defense is their pass rush. So the Bills OC managed to jump head first into the opponents best ability. Is Hackett taking bribes to throw games or could he possibly be that stupid? This year the Bills have forgone the run game in favor of throwing it 40 times the last four games, and they lost 3 of 4, and could have easily lost all four if the Detroit kicker doesn't have a meltdown. Everyone else seems so positive the Bills will go into the bye week 5-3. I don't think any game is a given the way they have been game planning. Last year the Bills were also supposed to beat* the hapless Steelers, Buc's, Falcons, and Browns, and didn't. Rant over

I have no idea why some fans always think another teams garbage is going to be the savior of the franchise. I suppose we learned nothing about the supposed great pass rusher in "lights out" Shawn Merriman who was a waste of time & money. Last off season it was answer at TE in KC's Tony Moeaki, and how did that work out? The Bills FO knowing they need a decent top TE never addressed that position in the draft. Instead its two first rounders for a WR they want to use as a decoy. Man, I can't wait until a real football man is hired above* Whaley

The Bills were so lucky to win that Lions game. Currently Buffalo is ranked #11th in total defense, 29th against the pass, #3 against the run. Detroit #1 overall in total defense, 5th against the pass & 5th against the run. The Lions must have had severe mental lapses on D to allow Orton 308 yards passing, or they just didn't have any game film on him, so they didn't know what to expect. The Bills have 6 CB's on the roster, and the two starters are #1 picks, so you would think they would play better then they have. I think we see an entire new coaching staff next year.

Remember how lame the defense was under Dave Wannstedt with just rushing the front four, and expecting that to work all game. It never did, and the defense that was bad under George Edwards was just as bad under Wannstedt. Then what a breath of fresh air it was to have a DC like Pettine, and his blitz heavy schemes. He actually made use of those 9 of 11 first & second round draft picks on the defensive side. The same will said when this team fires this staff, and hires people that know how to utilize the talent on hand. Marrone will go because he favors his buddy Crossman, and isn't helping his OC Hackett at all by making a good WR inactive over a TE for special teams. If you are going to game plan to throw 38 times you would think Sammy Watkins would be a big part of the offensive game plan, and the same with Mike Williams. Bottom line: this coaching staff has shown that they can't compete against Bill Belichick, and the better teams. This team lost to Ryan Fitzpatrick

There really should be no reason. Then you consider this OC keeps calling for 40 passes a game, and only 20 runs. That's the formula for losing teams without a superstar QB, and even then they sometimes fail. Not running the ball well means the Bills defense is out on the field far to long, and suddenly bum QB's start looking like great QB's. I can only hope the Bills can find the run game this week or it could be another bad game. Unless their kicker misses 3 FG's, they lose their first 3 RB's, and their star WR goes out after one play.

Good point! Plus, while the OC in New Orleans Payton called the offensive plays like Gailey did when he was here. So, Marrone was a figurehead OC, and perhaps he lacks the wherewithal to help Hackett.

I don't know. I only think it would be out of courtesy to ask the former ex NFL O lineman, ex NFL O line coach, ex NFL OC, and current head coach his opinion on who to obtain for the line. The signing of ex Rams OG Chis Williams was completely perplexing to me. A partial reason Gailey got his HCing job in Buffalo was because he stated he didn't need superstars to win games, and probably why he stuck with Fitz his whole time in Buffalo. Now Marrone has stated almost the same thing about the O linemen, and stating that they don't need continuity, as long as you field the best players you have. The problem is the best players he has at the OG are not nearly good enough. A 5th round OG needs time to develop, that is "IF" he ever develops at all. Whaley needs to either promote one of the two OG's on the OS, or bring in a vet FA like Incognito, and needs to stop asking both Marrone & doofus Buddy Nix for advice on anything. I also hope he doesn't have to learn the hard way that teams need quality at the OG position, and the idea that you can find good ones later in the draft hasn't worked out so well for this regime. Its a really stupid philosophy. Yea, where is he going to find that?

I agree, good post by the OP Yea, that is a sad fact about the supposed O line guru on par with the supposed QB guru who stuck with Fitz rather then drafting a QB to groom. Marrone sucks as a line guru. I think it might be a GM problem if Whaley continues to go with the status quo. The team has three OG's on the roster Pears, Richardson, Urbik, and none of those would be good enough to start on the better teams. Whaley has done an amazing job finding defensive players. A great kicker in Carpenter, and a decent punter in Gay. Then why in thee hell can't he find some decent OG's? The season is in the balance, and this is the best he can do? If Whaley is listening to Marrone on evaluating O line players then he needs to stop... slam on door on the guy. Then try and find some OG's & TE's to work out, and make his own evaluations. This is his job, and the teams success on the line. He is the GM, and he needs take charge!! http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/nfl/45947/309/2014-nfl-free-agents

I have to wonder if they are worried that Eric Wood will go down and have nobody to adequately replace him if they start Urbik at RG. Pears or Urbik we are talking about players who should be backups. Going on two years now to replace Levitre, and Chris Williams wasn't the answer either. I have to question this Nix type idea of size is better, so lets bring in anyone over 6'5'' 325 lbs. Then they can't seem to get enough push in the run game even having a 30 lb advantage. I'd rather see more athletic players in there that can block on the line or twenty yards down field. Those porkers should be able to move that LoS five yards. Lastly, I can recall Mike Holmgren running a RB practice toss sweep play, and he must have had them run it 30 times until they got it right three times in a row. I don't watch Bills practices but I gotta wonder if this coaching staff makes them work until they get it right (doubtful), or as a "players coach" its always a light walkthru. I really have to question this coaching staff, and their ability to get that O line working.

Th You really can't see holes on the line from the sideline view, at least I can't. I'd say Chandler being thrown to the ground like a rag doll, so yea, that's a piss poor block. At best no matter what Spiller does, he gets back to the line of scrimmage as two defenders were closing from the outside. This is the NFL, and holes on the line close in milliseconds. Why not look at this from Gailey's offense: http://www.buffalobi...9a-a6a349aa4b95 when was the last time you saw the Bills OG's 20+ yards downfield making a block...2012 perhaps? And lastly, Gailey was about as much a QB guru is as Marrone is an O line guru. I wouldn't want that guy coaching a rookie QB. You can't honestly tell me that the O line hasn't gotten so much worse with no Levitre from 2012..can you? EDIT: The way the offense should be run is exactly the way Hackett ran it in the first game against Chicago. Manuel 16 of 22 passing. Spiller 18 touches, Jackson 10 touches, Dixon 5 touches. 193 net yards rushing vs 167 yards passing. The Bills had 7 first down rushing, 6 passing. Run the ball, and keep the defense off the field. Then against the Chargers, Houston, Detroit, and New England its been all about throwing 40 times a game vs 20 rushes. Its like the Bills aren't even trying to get a decent run game going. Even if they bench Spiller it should be Jackson / Dixon getting 20 touches each.

Allow me to clarify. I did want Gailey to utilize Spiller more, and get him at the very least 20 touches a game. Gailey himself stated he should be giving both Fred & CJ 20 touches each, and throwing only 20 times a game. Yet that almost never happened because once the team got behind in the score by as little as 3 points it was " bombs away" with Chan as the OC going pass happy. Neither Orton or EJ should be throwing 40 times a game, and yet they have the lst 3 games. Heck yea I was excited to hear Hackett state he would run Spiller until he threw up. Just not the way Hackett has been using him. Last year it was +70% of runs midguard, or up the middle, or up the gut. Now this year with lousy OG's they can't even seem to get that done. Then probably the biggest reason for Spiller's decline is that the blocking is no where near the same, and the offensive plays aren't the same. I just don't like the way Hackett has setup the current offensive scheme. With trying to run Spiller out of a 2-3 WR spread set, and usually always keeps a TE in to block. Chan Gaileys offensive scheme called for a shotgun, 4 WR single back spread set. Sometimes a 5 WR empty backfield shotgun spread set like the Patriots use. The difference between the two schemes is that 4 WR set (that Brady also runs) challenges the defense to cover the extra WR with a DB instead of a LBer. This often creates a mismatch in favor of the offense. Hackett runs it occasionally, and Gailey continually ran it. Go back and watch that first series against the Patriots, and watch Spiller run off tackle for 6 yards on a misdirection play. Then I never saw that play again all game. When I said situational RB I meant 20 touches a game. 15 touches in the run game, and 5 in the passing game. But not as the every down, up the middle for 3 yards, and a cloud of dust, up the gut type RB. He needs to get the ball in space, off tackle. misdirection, end around, WR slot. He simply isn't built to take constant up the middle pounding. At 5'11'' 200lbs he is a waterbug type IMO. At 6'1'' 215 Jackson is more suited for the up the middle plays, and even then it should be Dixon's job as he is 6'1'' 239 lbs. Dixon had 5 attempts for 60 yards against Chicago, and made the Bears respect the run game.

works hard at what? Is he still out on the field in practice working with that O line? Ever hear the nickname "the greatest show on turf"? Dick Vermeil was the HC of the Eagles from 76-82, and got them to a SB and lost. Retired from the NFL, as he said he wanted to do something else. Then spent the next 15 years in broadcasting, announcing for CBS & ABC. Then at age 61, in 1997 he returned to the sidelines to be the head coach of the St Louis Rams, and in 1999, a short two years later the Rams were in the SB again with ex grocery boy-stockboy Kurt Warner as his QB. The Rams beat the Titans in the super bowl. Vermeil took the Eagles to the SB, the Rams to the SB, and after he left the Rams he went to KC and took them to a 13-3 record. The man is now 78 years old, and could probably take the Bills to the playoffs in one year. Bill Cowher is currently only 57 years old, and I for one would love it that a guy with that spent 15 years in the NFL as a head coach and went 149-90-1. While his teams were in the playoffs 10 of those years, and two super bowls. Just think, Cowher managed to win all those games, and get to the playoffs with mostly scrubs at QB. It wasn't until Big Ben that he finally won a SB, and Cowher only had him for 3 years.

While I agree about Gilbride. I also thinks its most important to have a good head coach that knows talent, and helps build the team, offense the way he wants. That 2007 power run game didn't totally come from Gilbride Player deficiencies, who's fault is that? Whaley has had two off seasons to build the O line with the help of the supposed O line guru in Marrone. The current Bills HC is an ex NFL player (O line) ex NFL line coach, ex NFL OC, and soon to be an ex NFL head coach because his forte is the O line, and its by far the worst area of the team. This team continues to lose games while Nate Hackett is learning how to do his job. What does solve the problem is hiring the right head coach. I'm so sick of these "maybe" good coaches. The Eagles hire a winner 10-3, 12-1, 12-2, 12-1 with a 46 -7 record. Marrone 4-8, 8-5, 5-7, 8-5 with a 25-25 record. See the problem? Chan gailey was fired as the Chiefs OC so it makes perfect sense for Buffalo to hire him, and then to promote him to HC. Bill Cowher- Marty S- Jim Harbough- This team deserves a winning NFL HC.

When CJ was drafted I hated the pick as the Bills needed help in other areas. But, Gailey wanted Spiller as his "waterbug" type RB, and from his days at Georgia Tech as he was amazed at the way Clemson utilized Spiller. I think Gailey thought he was a getting a smart, versatile RB. Then when he gave him the start in 2010 in the opener he saw that Spiller couldn't pass protect, run or pass block, or run a WR route tree. Then promptly benched him after 5 plays and sent in Fredex with a cast on his hand. Why Gailey didn't know his new RB was so limited comes back to simply bad coaching. CJ IS a big play, "situational" RB to be utilized in a limited role. There is a real reason as to why Eagles HC Chip Kelly tried to trade for him. He is not an every down, pound it up the middle back (and neither is Freddy). This Bills coaching staff fails to comprehend this, and Hackett is so freaking lame in that he saw Spiller do great things for Gailey with draw plays. So now he is copying the draw play, and not the formation or the blocking. How do you go into film study after a game, and not see whats not working, and then come out and try and run the same play that doesn't work over, and over, and it didn't work last year either? Answer, bad coaching! Gailey didn't know how to utilize Lynch, and wanted to have his "waterbug" be the feature back. So Nix sent Marshawn packing. Now Hackett wants a Marshawn Lynch type to pound it up the middle, so the team will send Spiller packing. Two first round picks for Sammy Watkins, and he sees the ball 3x times all game, really? really? Two catches all game, and no other involvement for the teams newest, shiniest offensive toy. Then WR Mike Williams inactive so the team could play a scrub TE? Oh yea, great offensive minds on this coaching staff.. I yearn for a real NFL offensive coordinator that knows how to properly utilize his players, and setup an offense.

and Cleveland is loving it ...

and when the Bills lose to those two teams they are supposed to beat, what then? The cowgirls as you say spent their last 3 first round picks all on the O line, and the result is Dallas leading the NFL in rushing and in first downs by rushing. Plus, protecting Tony Romo, and giving him much more time to throw then he had in the past. Old Jerrah wanted to draft Johnny Football, and his son brilliantly talked him out of that move, and into drafting an OG. A move that a lot of Bills fans here say is a wasted pick, and its paying big dividends for Dallas. But yea, you have a point about good teams losing games all the time. New England got owned by the Chiefs at Arrowhead, and then rebounded to own the unbeaten Bengals at their home. The Thing is, this Buffalo Bills team has shown itself to be one dimensional in that all they want to do is throw 40+ times a game vs 20+ rushes. Which is something that isn't working out so well with two rookies, and a waste of space on that line. The Bills are currently fielding the worst graded line in the NFL. With no run game the defense is out on the field far to long and wears out, and the DB's get left hanging out to dry. This team is lucky to be 3-3, and may not get many more wins the way they are game planning.