thewildrabbit

What does he add to the offense? Hopefully a lock down right tackle for the next ten years I'm hoping that OG Cyril Richardson, and Seantrel Henderson make the team, and eventually also find spots on that line.

I honestly don't get it either, and perhaps it says something about the karma surrounding this franchise. From what I saw, all SJ did was get open, and that was against some of the very best DB's in the league like Revis Island. No other Bills WR in the history of the team had three 1000 yard seasons in a row. The guy played hurt all the time with various injuries that would sideline most players. The biggest thing in my view is that he loved playing for the Buffalo Bills. Which is something that so many other players have shown that they wanted out of Buffalo. McGahee, Byrd, Levitre, Poz, Whitner, among others. Do I miss him? The season hasn't even started yet, and we don't know how this receiver corps will look until the regular season games begin. My first thoughts are yes, the Bills will miss that guy who was always open. Will they miss the critical drops, or the antics...no! All I can do is wish SJ the best in SF.

I have faith that EJ will be the solid FotF after this season. Hard worker, squeaky clean.

While changing the name seems outright stupid to me at this point in time, some marketing by the Bills might be a better move. Something like New York's only real team, the New York, Buffalo Bills! As our home stadium isn't in a different state, and we don't call New Jersey home. Seacaucus is right next to them.

That was my basic concern, that he would let his passion for the sport rule his judgement. Then after reading some of the responses I'm now much less concerned. Hopefully he wins the bid. The point being was that those two owners will eventually find the right men to run their teams, and then stand back and let them do so.

I don't know about you, but I'm so sick of these wannabe, maybe type head coaching hires that result in three years of losing and out. 14 years of this crud. Jauron made it to four years because of his 2008 5-1 start. Game 5 in 2008 was when Edwards took that hit to the head in Arizona. Joe Gibbs quit being an NFL HC, and went 100% into NASCAR racing the following year, in which he was very successful in winning three National Championships, and still owned that racing team after he was hired to be the HC of the Redskins. In 1995 Gibbs even fielded three NHRA drag racers. He son now runs his NASCAR team. I think comparing Gibbs comeback into the NFL is a bit unfair because of his continued involvement in his NASCAR racing team throughout his second stint as HC of the Redskins. While I agree that Bill Cowher might not be the most innovative, or passionate head coach out there ATM, and that he can't possibly be the same "the chin" that roamed the sidelines back in the day. What he does bring to the table is a wealth of experience in just about every facet of the game. He knows the assistant coaches he needs to hire, which in my view is about 80% of the job. Case in point was Dick Jauron who wouldn't hire an experienced NFL offensive coordinator to help tutor JP Losman & Trent Edwards, and instead promoted QB coaches who had no business running an NFL offense at that time. IMO it was Jauron who ruined those two young QB's. Jauron had no problem tho hiring experienced defensive coaches when one left for whatever reason. The same thing goes for the entire offensive side. When 28 year veteran O line coach Jim "Mouse" McNally retired Jauron promoted from within, and an assistant line coach took over. (You know McNally, the line coach who developed a TE into an all pro LT.) The result of that promotion instead of a veteran coach was Edwards head getting slammed to the turf in Arizona by an untouched blitzing safety. IMHO, part of Chan Gailey's downfall was trying to run the entire offense while also being the head coach, along with his need to call the plays during the game. The reason Gailey was hired in the first place is that when the chin was "stealth" interviewed for the vacant Bills HCing job back in 2010, Gailey was Bill Cowher's choice to run his offense in Buffalo should he be hired. I can only suspect Cowher wanted more money then the Buffalo Bills were willing to pay. I have two more to mention here as Dick Vermeil who took the Eagles to the SB back in 1980, and retired from the NFL in 1982. He then spent the next 15 years as a sports announcer for ABC- CBS. At 61 years old he was asked to be a head coach again by the Rams in 1997, and the result was a super bowl for the St Louis Rams. The 1986 Buffalo Bills hired a "WHO"? HC whose claim to fame was two CFL championships, and his NFL assistant background was in special teams. Another 61 year old who told the world he was 58 at that time. Marv wasn't a brilliant offensive or defensive tactician, but he did know which assistant coaches to hire. While he might not have hit a big time home run with DC Walt Corey, he certainly did in 1989 when he hired ex Baltimore Colts HC Ted Marchibroda to run his offense. The result of that hire was QB Jim Kelly being taught to call his own plays, the no huddle offense, utilizing the Redskins old "counter trey" run scheme. If nothing else, Marv Levy was a supreme motivator, as an NFL HC, and wasn't so insecure about his job that he was afraid to hire a more experienced assistant coach then himself. Bill Cowher was a supreme motivator, as was Dick Vermeil. The great thing about hiring someone like Bill Cowher is his wealth of football knowledge in every area of the game. Tom Donahoe lost a power struggle in Pittsburgh, and rightfully so as Cowher knew more about evaluating talent then Donahoe did. Hiring someone at their peak has nothing to do with knowing the entire job inside, and out. Like Chuck Knox, Cowher knows who to hire, knows how to evaluate players, and in my view could transform the entire organization from top to bottom into a winning team just like Knox did back in the 70's. I realize it's a young mans game, and it would be a better long term solution to hire an up, and coming NFL assistant coach. At this point in time all I want to see is a winning team take the field for a change. Shoot, I wouldn't even have a problem with the Bills hiring 71 year old Marty S, as the man knows player talent, knows who to hire and would field a winning team within a year or two. I'd take Bill Belichick in a heartbeat!

whoa, in only two weeks http://www.buffalobills.com/team/training-camp/practice-schedule.html

College coaches usually have a difficult time making the transition to the NFL, especially if they have never coached at the NFL level. Marrone at least had that going for him, and yet has made many mistakes. No QB coach for one, no real senior offensive assistants for another. Not to mention the line, the lack of a veteran QB on the roster. Hiring the wrong WR assistant coach. He has corrected many of those mistakes this year. However, I still remain highly skeptical simply because of his refusal to replace his friend as special teams coach who fielded one of the very worst units in recent years. It looks like the Bills made more of an effort to bolster the special teams with free agents then they did with the line. This reminds me so much of Chan Gailey keeping George Edwards on for a second year as DC when he was not worth keeping. Anyway, I know I'd rather see new owner Terry Pegula hire someone like Bill Cowher who is a proven NFL winner over then some unknown college coach. What we do know is some NFL head coaches will be fired after this season. Rex Ryan for one, and Tom Coughlin who are always on the hot seat. Mike Smith in Atlanta. Dennis Allen in Oakland. Jason Garrett in Dallas. Joe Philbin in Miami. There is even some crazy talk that there is a power struggle going on in SF between their GM, and HC Jim Harbough.

I believe the Buffalo Bills made the correct choice in drafting EJ, and upon first glance I was very apprehensive about the choice. Considering he was only the best available QB in a bad QB class. EJ was graded as a 3rd-4th round prospect previous to the Senior Bowl. Then after a very mediocre performance in that game, again he was the best of a bad QB class. It vaulted him up many draft boards, and the prevailing thought was that Chip Kelly would draft EJ. So I understand why the Bills drafted him in the first round, as they were completely sold that he was their "the man". EJ played behind Christian Ponder at Florida St, and while Ponder had a sucky 6.8 YPA. EJ had an 8.6 in 2011 his first year starting, and 8.8 YPA his second year. The Seminoles went 9-4 his first year, and 12-2 his senior year won the ACC Championship, and went on to win in the Orange Bowl. EJ has the physical tools to become an elite QB at the next level, and now its all about how he develops. I honestly didn't think much of EJ until I watched him run the two minute drill to perfection with the Bills, and it was a thing of beauty to watch. I'll be mad as hell if EJ is forced to play behind another craptastic line again this season, as he deserves better in order to properly fully develop. Should this coaching staff / GM fail again this season, I for one won't be sad to see them go.

Happy to accommodate you. What the hell was plan B? As we found out there was no plan B. My point being is that O line should have been a priority, especially with three rookie QB's on the roster. When Whaley knew Kolb was done, and Marrone made it known he wasn't satisfied with Brown, he then should have made the proper changes. These men are very highly paid professionals who are supposed to make intelligent choices to build a winning team. Clearly that didn't happen with the O line. BTW, Chuck Knox already had very good starters on the O line, and yet drafted OG Jim Ritcher with the #1 pick in 1980. Ritcher didn't even start for three years. But the end result was 14 years of playing LG for the Buffalo Bills, four super bowl appearances, and he played for both Knox, and Levy.

I'm torn on Pegula being the new owner of the Bills, and it certainly looks like he will be the man going forward. On one hand its the best thing that can happen because he will 100% keep the team in Buffalo, and on a personal level we all love the guy. On the other hand, and looking at whats happened with the Sabres since he took over it gives pause for concern. Daniel Snyder in the AFC East? I just want to see the Bills winning the division again year after year, and want an owner like Robert Kraft or Pat Bowlen who will hire a top HC / GM, and let them do their jobs.

Clearly, almost anything would have been better then being forced to cut the two supposed replacements for Andy Levitre after six weeks of starts. Good coaches, GM's usually don't make these types of errors. The O line hasn't been a priority for this franchise since the Bill Polain, Chuck Knox days, and its shows up every season.

Not for nothing but the very first area that should be addressed in building a team properly is from the ground up, and as with anything, its only as strong as the foundation. Protecting the QB should be the prime concern of any team, and at all times. Even if Kolb was the supposed starting QB you would think that since the Bills defense managed to knock him the previous season that they would think to protect him the best they can. The FO had to know he was made of glass, and should have taken more steps to properly protect him on the field. The end result of that would have been to also help the three rookie QB's last year. I don't have blind faith, and want to see positive results. 6-10 showed me the same old stuff. I'm really sick of regime after regime trying to build a team bass ackwards. I'm hoping that this staff can put a winning team on the field this season, and that's all we really have is hope. I did earlier state in this thread he masterfully made additions to the defense. He just outright sucked in the important area of protecting the QB. You know, the most important part of building a winning team

Buddy Nix stated he would draft a QB and that is exactly what he did. AFAIK Buddy Nix was the factual GM until after the draft, and it was entirely his decision as to when he would step down. The point being is the Bills already had their QB, WR inadequacies addressed after Nix retired. Its irrelevant anyway, as my point being is that Whaley was in complete control until after the draft and he failed miserably to upgrade the one area he could least afford to fail in. Even now the line is still in flux, as they don't know what to expect in terms of line protection until preseason. This simply shouldn't be the case with three 2nd year QB's all trying to properly develop.

I'll give you a variable for success better then the YPA throwing. What kind of team is the rookie QB going to play for? Does his new HC have a record of success. Does he have a solid team around him in terms of O line, receiving corps. Is the offensive coaching staff progressive enough to help build an offense to protect him while allowing him to develop properly? Bradshaw had Chuck Knoll as his HC Tarkenton was a scrambler, and made his own fortune most of the time. Yet he had Bud Grant as his HC. Phil Simms had Bill Parcells as his HC Show me a good QB, and I'll show you a good team around him.

To me, last year HC Doug Marrone fell right on his face in his area of O line expertise when the starting LG, and his backup at LG needed to be cut after week six. After Legursky was the moved to replace LG the lines depth then consisted of players right off the waiver wire. This isn't the way to build a playoff team, and as I said I doubt this team can overcome these band aid type moves. I think if this regime fails to field a winning team they will all be goners. The playoffs might be a stretch this year considering their schedule, and I would think that any new owner will at the very least want to see progress in terms of wins. 9-7 should do it, and even an 8-8 should give new ownership pause.

First of all Whaley didn't take over until after last years draft. Nix had already hired Marrone as HC, had drafted EJ at QB, drafted Robert Woods at WR. The one area of the team that most fans were talking about last off season was who will replace LG Andy Levitre. With Doug Whaley in complete charge he brought in Doug Legursky as the back up center. A known inferior product. He also could have upgraded the OG, RT situation better then going with the scrubs already with the team. Known inferior products. In particular when the coach states he isn't satisfied with the talent. Then this off season he signs OG Chris Williams to a 5.5 million dollar guaranteed contact, and this player graded as the very worst player on a less then stellar St Louis team. A known inferior product. Doug Whaley is band-aiding areas that he should have fixed with quality talent, and to the one place that he can at least afford to have problems with, considering three 2nd year QB's need all the help they can get in developing into better QB's.

You don't need to second guess when he puts crap talent on the field in Colin Brown, and his backup was equally bad at his job. Marrone stated in training camp that he wasn't satisfied with Browns play , and yet went into the season with him starting anyway. So, will that one real upgrade to the line at RT be enough to adequately protect those 2nd year QB's this season? Because if not, then everything else Whaley has done so far will be for naught. On another note, should new ownership make sweeping changes. like I said I'm not against change if it will finally bring in another HC like Chuck Knox or Marv Levy, a GM like Bill Polian. All I want to see is the Bills field a winning team.

What gets me about this GM is that he helps draft a first round QB, and the very first ever QB taken with the first, first round draft pick in the 50+ year history of the team. Then in his first year he brings in total poop to block for him....which is kinda crazy when you consider that everything else he does with the team will be overlooked if the QB doesn't succeed. While I applaud the #2 draft pick on an OT this year, I also have to wonder if its to little, to late. As linemen will also need time to develop, and the line needs playing time together to become a cohesive unit.

Where exactly did I say that it should have been fixed in a year? Feel free to bold that part in a quote.

The blue does look cool, and has a sort of NY Giant ish look to it.

First off, In regards to my last post in this thread, and Sammy Watkins. Don't get me wrong here as I genuinely like the kid, and hope he turns out to be another Julio Jones clone. The odds just show that first round wide receivers usually have a huge NFL learning curve to contend with just like any other position, and most don't become superstars their first season. Particularly when you also have a second year QB who is still learning the game himself. Case in point, even the mighty Calvin Johnson only had 48 receptions for 756 yards, 4 TD's his first season. Then you have OC Nathaniel Hackett, and when the Bills needed a brilliant tactician running the offense considering you have three rookie QB's on the roster. Instead the Bills had a hammer who chose to run the ball 70+% of the time mid guard, or up the middle. Actually, he was more like a jackhammer in the way he forced CJ Spiller to try and make plays between the tackles instead of getting him in space like his predecessor used to do. The Bills were the #2 team in the NFL in rushing yards, and the #1 team in attempts. Yet, that didn't win many games for them because the offense was trying to run a hurry up offense with rookie QB's, and that limited their ability to stay on the field. Last season the Bills were one of the very worst teams in the NFL in 3rd and out percentage because of that hurry up offense. It remains to be seen if this second year offensive coordinator can develop that first round pick at QB EJ into a top 15 QB, and to me that is the most important aspect of the upcoming season. I remain highly skeptical about this coaching staff considering all the mistakes they made their first season. Then you have Doug Whaley who has been masterful at helping to build a great defense by adding so many good players in that area of the team. The other side has been treated differently, as you have the offense, and the Bills making the decision to let their best pass blocker leave in free agency, and replacing him with utter garbage that was cut and released by week six during last year. Then the backup center who has graded poorly throughout his career was the replacement at LG, and he played up to his grading. This left the Bills precariously thin on the O line all season, and they were exceeding lucky to have not suffered any further serious injuries on that line last year. Then this off season free agency the Bills brought in another player who graded as the very worst player on his last team, and throughout his career. Paying 5.5 million for a player who wouldn't even make it as a backup on some of the better teams in the NFL. A very questionable move by Whaley considering the Bills are trying to develop three young QB's, and need the very best pass protection they can get. The one big addition to the line was a new RT drafted in the second round. Whaley finally adding some quality talent to a very suspect line. I still question the talent at the two OG positions. Whaley has made some mistake in his first year as an NFL GM, and history shows that bad teams usually don't evolve into good teams after so many mistakes. I see where the OP is coming from, and he just went way overboard in stating he wants the team to tank and go 0-16. No true Bills fan can't possibly want to see another team get the first overall pick because of their bad season. Like I said earlier I'm hoping that the Bills overcome some very questionable decisions made by this regime, and finish this season with at least a 9-7 record. Will they? The eternal optimistic Bills fan in me says HECK YEAH! The realist in me says no way, and the result is a new coaching staff / FO after ownership changes hands. I will always support change until this franchise starts to have winning seasons....or at least shows improvement in the W / L column

Then there is also the point of being a realist, and not wearing the rose colored glasses all the time. Looking at things from the outside, and being able to see things from a different perspective. In regards to Sammy Watkins, exactly how many 6-10 teams can you name that traded away their next years #1 draft pick for a WR? So many fans here keep making the comparison to the 2011 Atlanta Falcons. That Falcon team was previously 13-3 in 2010, 10-6 in 2011, and thinking all they needed was another playmaking WR to open up the offense. That Falcon team that gave up so may draft picks for a WR already had their #1 WR in Roddy White, a top TE In Tony Gonzalaz, a decent O line, and run game. The biggest point being is that they already had a playoff caliber QB in Matt Ryan. Now looking back at a 4-12 season in 2013, and that five player trade for Julio Jones not only seems foolish, its looks to me to be downright moronic. Simply because those four draft picks would have gone a long way to help keeping that team a playoff team. A first round, a second round, and two number four draft picks all given up for one player who only played five games last year. That's right, I think the Falcons were downright moronic to trade away that many picks for a WR when they could have drafted Torry Smith in the second round or opted for free agents Vincent Jackson, Sidney Rice that year. The Buffalo Bills basically traded away their starting #1 WR in Stevie Johnson for a third string RB in Bryce Brown. SJ a player who loved playing for the Bills, was usually always open, and was playing injured a lot last year. Then they brought in a troubled, injured WR from the Buc's in Mike Williams who may or may not even make the team. If Williams does make the team this year he probably won't be the #1 WR, and most likely will be behind both Watkins, and Woods. Then there are the odds of how successful a rookie WR will be in the NFL. Had Watkins gone to a team with an already established QB such as Brady, Brees, Manning. He might flourish, or he might not. Rookies tend to make rookie mistakes, and those can lead to INT's when the wrong route is run or a mishap miscommunication with the play. Which then leads to lost confidence between the QB- WR. The odds of a rookie WR making a big impact his first year is usually marginal. ESPN has Watkins ranked as the 48th best fantasy WR this year, and behind Woods. NFL.com has him at #44, and ahead of Woods. Some say this move was to save jobs... on the contrary it will more then likely put another nail in this front office. So, in all probability this Watkins trade will come back to haunt Bills fans next year when Cleveland makes that #1 selection instead of Buffalo.

* update* Direct TV has a new hook as of right now. If you don't have a genie box, and want to upgrade. They will give long term subscribers the Genie for free, providing of course that you sign a new 2 year contract, and then will put the screws to you for the NFL Sunday ticket come September. Being a bit progressive what we are doing is accepting the Genie now for free, and spoke with a supervisor about the upcoming Sunday ticket. Talked with them and they will give us this years Sunday Ticket MAX for an additional 20.00 a month, which figures out at 120.00 total for the package. That package is normally 55.00, or 330.00 total. So, it works for me.