thewildrabbit

Man, and I thought i was pessimistic....is the OP a Browns fan? The OP lost credibility with me when he couldn't correctly recall last years overall win / lose record, and like others I couldn't finish reading his post. I certainly don't want this team to tank this year so Cleveland gets the first overall pick, and I question any Bills fans loyalty that desires that outcome. I'm hoping the team finishes the season with at least a 9-7 record so Whaley / Marrone / Hackett can finish* what they started. I'm very intrigued to see how EJ develops this year, and to see what that new 5.5 million dollar LG can do, along with the three new O line draft picks. Bottom line is new ownership will undoubtedly clean house should this team fall on its face this season, and anything less then a winning record would be unacceptable in my view.

precisely! The focal point of most fans is the QB, and when the team doesn't have much success they tend to blame him. It is a team game, and the one position most dependent on the other players around him is the QB. Some fans watch the RB get tackled behind the line of scrimmage and then blame him for not being able to break a tackle or be quick enough to escape the tackle. Last years O line lost their best ranked pass blocker when Andy Levitre left, and the Bills proceeded to replace him with garbage that was cut and gone from the team by week six. Then the replacement at LG was the backup center who has notoriously graded poorly, and he did again last year. Someone mentioned that EJ looked bad against the Buc's, Steelers, and he also looked horrible in that first game against the Jets. The line gave up 8 sacks in that first Jets game, and Spiller had 10 rushes for 9 yards. All three of those games were on the road, and the Bills O line was basically useless in those games. Plus, no QB coach, no vet QB on the roster to help the three rookie QB's. Anyway, the Bills addressed the line problems by drafting three O linemen last draft, two OT's, and an OG. Plus they brought in a 5.5 million dollar OG in free agency to help bolster the line. Then this off season they hired a QB coach, and brought in some extra help in hiring other offensive coaches. In young QB's its all about letting them gain confidence play by play, game by game, and if EJ can stay healthy this season. I fully expect him to greatly improve from last season.

This from the guy who thinks Kyle Williams is also over rated, and stated Fred Jackson was done last off season..... Jim Kelly wanted Tasker as a WR and Marv Levy said emphatically NO! As he was far too valuable as a special teamer to Levy. Lets not forget that Marv's background was as a special team coach for George Allen's Redskins, and was never anything more as an assistant coach. Later in his career Tasker was used as a WR and those special teams plays took so much out of him that he would need a few plays off to catch his breath. Anyway, watching Tasker catch everything thrown his way from Kelly, and always open. I have no doubts that he could have made a big impact to the game as a WR. In my view Steve Tasker is a hall of fame player, as no other player in the entire history of the NFL has made the impact for his team at his position as a "gunner". A 7x time pro bowler, Pro bowl MVP. At only 5'9'' 183 lb he was a feared tackler, as teams would try and devise ways to take him out of the plays, and usually never found a way. One of my all time favorite NFL players, and if anything he is under rated by the world to not be in the HoF.

man, how do you keep up with all these transactions of other teams. I know I won't start looking at everything until at least August. But, you are right. http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/1824669/kadeem-carey

I must have missed that trade with Gabbert to SF, dunno what they are thinking. Still, Chad Henne as the starter with virtually no real running game. Toby Gerhart...really? The third string QB is Ricki Stanzi who has 4 years exp, and no NFL stats. So Henne stubs his toe, who will get the nod then? Yeah, still the Jags IMO.

It could be an injury to his arm that needs to heal, or more then likely his injured ankle which didn't get a chance to fully heal. If a QB can't step up or plant his foot to throw a pass he is basically screwed. Last year Schaub threw more pick sixes then he has in his entire career. Injuries to the receiving corps, defense, RB's all contributed to a horrid season for the Texans. It wasn't just Schaub either as no Texan QB would play well, Case Keenum went 0-8. I really gotta wonder if the 4-12 Raiders is the place to resurrect his career. HC Dennis Allen was a DC for only one year before being hired away from division rival Denver. I think the Raiders will be shopping for another new HC after this season. As for the worst QB situation, I'm still saying the Jags are throwing rookie Blake Bortles to the proverbial wolves. The Jags had the 32nd team in points, and 31st team in yards on offense last season, AND their bowling ball of a RB MJD is now a Raider. No star RB, and backup QB's are Blaine Gabbert, Chad Henne.

I believe the bolded statement to be more accurate then thinking its all on EJ. Last season when the run game failed to make plays (which was most of the time) then the onus to make a play fell right on the QB. Hackett called 70+% of the running plays right up the middle, which wasn't conducive to putting Spiller in the best position to make plays. The QB's were the rookies, and the O line or RB's were not. The run game could have easily been much more complicated with more motion, and sets, and more effective at making first downs considering the talent at RB. That first Jets game with 8 sacks on EJ, along with Spiller 10 rushes for 9 yards tells me the Bills play calling, O line were basically useless. Hackett wants to run a fast paced, hurry up type offense again this year, and that only works if the offense can stay on the field long enough to score. Last year the Bills were 25th in three downs and out percentage, and that needs to improve by a wide margin before the team can even think of having a winning season. It wasn't just Hackett, or EJ either. It was a injured young receiver corps & injured RB's, three rookie QB's with no QB coach, and a very suspect O line that played very poorly on the road. All that said, the O line now has some new upgrades, as does the receiver corps, and both EJ & Hackett are no longer rookies. A new QB coach along with some extra offensive coaches. NFL teams usually don't progress from 6-10 to playoffs, and all I'm hoping for is a winning season to build off of. I can envision playoffs down the road should the team have a winning season this year. 9-7 or bust

In all honestly, I'm not so much worried about Cutler as I am that Bears run game with Matt Forte & Michael Bush. We will find out right away if that bills defense against the run has improved as much as we think it has with Peppers- Spikes. The best way to nullify the Bills pass rush is to simply have Cutler hand it off most of the game, and have HC Marc Trestman pick his spots to have Cutler throw. The Bears did average 4.5 yards per carry last year. On another note the Bears won their opening game at home against the Bengals last year, and it was all passing from both teams. Then they went on to win their first three games.

It wasn't just EJ that struggled on the road, as the Bills biggest loses were on the road. That first game against the Jets 8 sacks, and Spiller had 10 rushes for 9 yards. Along with the Steeler, Buc's games all really stand out to me as that Bills O line just getting pushed back all over the field, and allowing so much pressure. With a new RT, LG, and more possible upgrades on that line that should help so much this season IMO. I'm really looking forward to seeing what that line looks like with the new upgrades.

Last year the Bears were #2 in points scored, and #8 in yards while being 30th in both points, and yards. Still they only went 8-8. Jay Cutler went 5-6 last year, and still gets rattled under strong pressure. As others have pointed out Schwartz knows how to beat the bears as the Lions swept them last year. The Bills will be about 6.5 point underdogs going into this game. Gonna be interesting for sure. Three months to go...

My favorite part. In saying that Trump, Pegula, and the single bidders will have a big edge in buying the team. So, F off Jon Bon Jovi "Based on modern NFL history, single-person bidders hold a tremendous advantage over group/consortium/syndicate bids." "It is highly unlikely -- highly unlikely -- that any NFL team is going to be sold to a syndicate. Not just the Bills but any NFL team," said Marc Ganis, who as president of Chicago-based Sports Corp. Ltd. is a long-time expert in the field of pro sports franchise relocation's." http://www.torontosun.com/2014/05/23/whats-next-in-bills-sale-process

Yet he did manage to lead that craptastic Cleveland Brown team to a playoff berth now didn't he! How many times has that team seen the playoffs since 1994? Allow me to say that Cleveland hasn't had that many wins in the past 20 years since they fired Belichick He took over a completely worthless 3-13 team, and went 6-10 in his very first season as HC. Then 7-9 with Mike Tomczak at QB, and again 7-9 with washed up QB Vinnie Testaverde . Then in his fourth year as HC the Browns went 11-5. If I'm not mistaken that Cleveland team only allowed 20 sacks that year, fewest in the league. Testaverde still stunk with 16 TD's, 18 INT's. I suppose I'm wasting my time explaining all this to someone who doesn't get that Belichick managed to get to 11-5 with Matt Cassel at QB. A player who never started a single game in his four years at college, and hadn't started a game since high school. Thus in my view he managed to make a complete bum look like a competent NFL QB...again.

That wish came true back In the 2008 opening game, as Brady took a hit from the Chiefs D, and suffered a knee injury knocked him out for the season. So he is not completely immune to a big hit. Its just that he has always had a better then average O line, receivers, coaching, and good teams around him. That year after Brady went on IR after the first game, the Patriots went on to an 11-5 season with a QB who never started a single game in college, and his last previous start was in high school. Yeah, you read that right. Matt Cassel played four years at USC, and he never started in a single game. Anyway, the Patriots beat the Bills 2x that year, and even with a game slated in the bills favor they still lost. In a game at RWS with high winds so the QB's couldn't pass well at all, and the Bills having the better RB's the Bills were still beaten 13-0. It was just sad, as they were out rushed by Sammy Morris, LaMont Jordan. Bottom line is Tom Brady is a HoF QB, and has been playing at a high level for twelve years now. Still, if the Patriots didn't have Brady I think that Bill Belichick would have found another QB to win games for him. To me coaching is everything, and should the Bills have had Brady instead, they probably would have ruined him. Anyway, as long as the Patriots have Belichick they will be contending for the division title. Rex Ryan will always have a top defense that will help him win games. The only question is if the Dolphins have a HC that can build a winner. However that Dolphin team did get better under Philbin. From 6-10 before him to 7-9, and then to 8-8 last year under his two year reign. If the Bills really have finally found the right HC, then they could be contending for a playoff spot this year. That is a big "IF" tho.

In regards to the question. I like both #5 Richardson who was a finalist for the outland trophy. Which is for the best linemen in the country with 83 knock down blocks. At 6'5'' 343, good lord what a beast. The only reason he fell to the fifth round were weight / discipline issues. I see better talent with some developing then any current OG the bills have. #7 Henderson like I stated earlier could have been a first round pick if not for his drug problems. Would it surprise you to learn that Sammy Watkins was also suspended in 2012 by his team for testing positive....once. Henderson tested positive three times is the difference. Well that, and the smarts to know enough to put down the doobie long enough to get thru the season. The Bills have taken some chances on players under Whaley that they wouldn't normally have done in the past. Watkins has already cleaned up his act. The Bills took a chance on Kiko, and did it again with WR Mike Williams. I see both Richardson and Henderson making some sort of impact, and although I don't see them both starting. However, I do see them making the final team because they both have some great raw talent. Plus, I really doubt if Henderson shows anything at all that he will ever see the PS. Marrone has stated Henderson has one chance, and I believe him. EDIT: "Last week, Henderson stepped into the first team at left tackle with several injuries keeping regular starters out. There is talk that he impressed the coaching staff and could be in the mix for a roster spot and also for a starting job." http://sports.yahoo....-222517510.html

Thanks, and I also hope those picks make an impact. As far as the backup QB situation last year, the Bills had signed Matt Flynn and kept him for awhile and then preferred Jeff Tuel over him for some unknown reason. Flynn was signed as a backup to Tuel because EJ, and Thad were both injured. Signed Oct 14th, released Nov 4th. Perhaps Flynn wasn't picking up the offense quickly enough or something to that effect. All I know is Flynn went on to win some games for the Packers. Signed by the Pack Nov 12th, and played in his first game Nov 24th against the Vikings when they had their third stringer QB starting. Flynn came in during the 3rd QTR, and rallied the team from a 23-7 deficit ending that game in a tie. Flynn beat the Cowboys, Falcons, and went 2-3. While Flynn was signed too late to help with that Cleveland game, he could have helped win that Chiefs game. Hackett was calling a brilliant game all the way up until that 3rd and goal from the Chiefs one yard line. The Bills were dominating that #1 Chiefs defense with 35 rushes for 240 yards. I suppose I'll never see what this coaching staff sees in Jeff Tuel, and the reason they kept him off the practice squad. Perhaps because the Patriots brought him in for a pre draft workout? Flynn also won a 2007 BCS National championship while at LSU, and has been a Packer, Seahawk and I wouldn't mind him as a backup over Tuel, and talking over plays with EJ. Shifting gears again in regards to Matt Schaub. Sometimes QB's play with injuries that really hamper their ability to do their jobs, and yet don't want to pull themselves for being thought of as a pansy or simply don't think their injuries as severe enough to bench themselves. The entire reason Kurt Warner was so ineffective his last years as St Louis was because of a hand injury that never healed. Once away from starting and given a chance to fully recover the rest is another super bowl visit. Then again the Texans did change their offensive philosophy somewhat in 2013 in throwing more often, and it didn't help that both RB's Arian Foster- Ben Tate were both injured.

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Please don't equate Jeff "loser" Tuel who won 4 of 22 games in college to Joe Montana who led some of the greatest college comebacks ever. Tuel is probably going to be another Trent Edwards in looking great in camp, and then choking when its crunch time. Everyone is forgetting what this kid looked like when he took over for EJ against the Browns in the 3rd quarter. Let me tell ya.... punt, punt, punt, punt, punt, INT, downs. Against the Chiefs who were dropping in coverage and getting killed by the Bills ground game 38 rushes for 248 yards. Then Tuel threw his INT in the endzone that was returned for a TD, and the rout was on as Tuel went on a 39 passing attempt joke of a game. The rest of that game went like this, INT, downs, FG, fumble, punt, punt, downs. So, basically Tuel looked good in a power run scheme while throwing only 16 passes, and the Bills rushing for 35 times, and then sucked big time while trying to win the game by throwing. Would it surprise you to learn that the Chiefs only scored three FG's on offense that entire game, and scored two defensive touchdowns to win the game? Tuel INT returned for a TD, and a TJ Graham fumble after a pass returned for a TD. As a backup QB Tuel lost two games last year that a seasoned QB could have won, and until he shows that he came come in a game and win it by throwing, I will always think of him as a loser.

I understand the concept of the hurry up offense to keep the opposing defense from making substitutions and trying to keep them on their heels. While wearing the same defensive players out during a game. However, the Bills were one of the worst teams in the NFL in offensive efficiency because they couldn't maintain drives. They were 25th in three downs and out, 29th in 3rd down efficiency, and 31st in first down stats 301 first downs, 1116 plays, 27%. There were a lot of things contributing to such a bad state of ball control all season, sub par O line, suspect QB play from three rookies, a rookie play caller. This along with a mostly rookie offensive coaching staff, no QB coach at all. No veteran QB on the roster for leadership. The Bills had the #2 rushing team in the NFL in total yards, and yet didn't win many games. This year with more seasoned QB's the OC can open up the playbook more. The O line looks to be upgraded with some solid additions in the draft, and players returning from IR. But yeah, to the OP point. Ex Bills DC Mike Pettine stated that the best way for an offense to fool the defense is to change up the tempo of the offense so the defense can never get accustomed to exactly what the offense will do from series to series, play to play. Pettine also mentioned that the Patriots offense is a perfect example of this change up offense, and defenses never know what they are going to get from series to series. I suspect that Hackett will have this year to prove himself as a competent play caller because I'd guess new ownership isn't going to tolerate another losing season from this staff.

This is the Buffalo Bills were are talking about. I'm thinking around 1.2 should be enough. I don't see anyone up north bidding more then 1.2.

Those weren't entirely my words... Still I want to get carried away by this years draft. It might be the first time in more then a decade that more then one player drafted after the second round becomes a starter and makes an impact. " Seantrel Henderson, T, 6-7, 331, Miami...Was touted as a first-round talent, Henderson is a big man, but he moves like a linebacker, likely due to his basketball background as he had Division I scholarship offers to play basketball. He often dominated games with 58 knockdown blocks and 10 touchdown blocks. - A similarly jaw-dropping combination of size and power as San Diego Chargers 2013 first round pick D.J. Fluker." he could be the steal of draft.'' http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1737097/seantrel-henderson Lets face it that many of the fans here really like what Whaley did in the draft this year. Second rounder Cyrus Kouandjio had medical issues that scared away other teams. Which is exactly what happened with Thurman Thomas back in the day. With only 16% body fat, and 35 5/8 inch arms he was pegging to go to the Dolphins with the 18th pick. His Alabama coaches went on to say that he could be better then Fluker in the pros. COMPARES TO: D.J. Fluker, San Diego Chargers - Like his former teammate, Kouandjio offers the physical skill-set to make scouts drool. http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1893144/cyrus-kouandjio Cyril Richardson was projected to be drafted in rounds 3-4, and could become a solid starter if he can get his weight problem under control. Road grader with a nasty temperament is a good way to describe Mr Richardson. About Da'Rick Rodgers and that 50+ page thread that is buried somewhere in here. I think Marrone fired his WR coach specifically for his appraisal of Rodgers, and he would still be a Buffalo Bill if not for that coach. Anyway, I did say that there are some big "ifs" in my thinking of this years O line to become elite. The Bills did draft some real road graders for that line, and if nothing else that run game shouldn't be stopped on third and short. The team obviously preferred to keep Jeff Tuel over a vet, and exactly how many games did that win them last year? I know it lost them the Cleveland game, and probably the KC game. You know of any other teams that would keep three rookie QB's on the roster, and now three 2nd year QB's? It does greatly help young QB's to have an NFL experienced vet QB on the roster whether you care to believe it or not. The Bills have added extra offensive coaches this year QB coach, senior offensive assistant, and even an assistant special teams coach.

Forgive me fellow Bills fans... but I can't help but like the guy, and all his honesty. I hope he kicks some a$$ in the AFC North. I want to see those poor bastage Browns fans see some success.

I've been around long enough to realize that really good head coaches, GM's, OC's don't make the type of mistakes that these people have made, and then go on to build a winning team. We saw issues last year, and they didn't. We still see issues with the team this year.. This isn't about a 5 year plan. Its about building a solid team the very first year, and going forward from there. About the only way I see the line advancing to an elite level is by getting those three rookies involved. Seantrel Henderson would have been a first round pick if not for his three positive drug tests at the U, and he admitted his problem during the combine. He compares to DJ Fluker, and could be the steal of the draft, and could get a starting position "if" he can stay clean. Cyril Richardson could start at OG, and with Kouandjio at RT the Bills could easily have a very dominate run blocking unit, and very good pass blocking unit. Not only that, they could finally have some depth. Some really big "if' here. EJ needs more help then i saw last year. He needs a power run game that can make a 3rd and short so he isn't always under the gun to make a play, and the offense something other then running up the middle 70+% of the time. He needs more then just a WR coach as a mentor, and if they don't care to hire another coach then retain a veteran QB for guidance. I will embrace a new regime if this staff can't get it together this year, and show some real progress by winning more then they lose.

If he doesn't get it after reading that post, then he never will. On another note, I still don't think that EJ has enough of a supporting cast to help him fully succeed this upcoming year. I still question his two starting OG's and the coaching. Although It really doesn't matter either because should the team end with a poor record again, then new ownership will certainly make regime changes. Then considering the team has no first round pick next year I'd think EJ will be given another chance with new coaching in 2015.

I for one still don't trust in Cam Newton and his shady past, despite his freakish athletic ability. Whereas Erik James is so clean he squeaks when he walks. Drew Brees sat behind Doug Flutie his first year, and then next season was tutored by the same guy who tutored Joe Flacco in Baltimore in OC Cam Cameron. Brees was benched by Marty S in his second season of starting, and told he needed to cut down on the turnovers or else the bench is where is would stay. Talk about growing pains, the Chargers went 8-8 in Brees first year, and 4-12 his second year. in 2003 Brees went 2-9, 11 TD's 15 INT's, and his yards avg was 5.9. That was also the year that John Butler passed and AJ Smith took over as GM. Apparently AJ didn't think much of Brees because they drafted Eli Manning #1 overall, who then refused to play for the Chargers so they traded him to the NY Giants, and obtained Phillip Rivers. That must have lit a fire under Brees because the next year he went 11-4 as the starter with a 65% completion, 3159 yards, 27 TD's, 7 INT's, and a 7.9 yard avg. The next year Brees, and the Chargers went 9-7, 3576 yards 24 TD's, 15 INT's. 7.2 y/a. Brees was injured and traded away to the Saints. To hear Brees tell it, it was his benching that caused him to be more careful with the ball. Brees sat behind Flutie for a year. Phillip Rivers was allowed to sit two years behind Brees while learning under OC Cam Cameron. Aaron Rodgers was allowed to sit three years behind Brett Favre, and learn. Colin Kaepernick was allowed to sit behind Alex Smith an entire year and learn. Plus these young men learned from some of the best, and brightest offensive minds in the NFL today. EJ was thrown into the fire his first year behind a crap line, with a banged up and limited receiver corps, and only had one person to learn the ropes from. That guy he was learning from was running the entire offense and learning the NFL ropes himself. Not a particularly good way to bring along any rookie QB. Plus, EJ still doesn't have the proper supporting cast either in terms of vet QB on the roster along with one senior offensive assistant who was a WR coach the last six years. Not a particularly good way to bring along any second year QB. JMHO

There is no question that EJ is going to be one of those QB's that take 3-4 years to fully develop, and at the end of those four years he has the skill set to become an elite QB. He has the cannon for an arm, the mobility / escape-ability, quick release, the prototypical height-weight. I think the realists here at TBD understand that it is going to take time for this young man to develop, and we can only hope that Hackett doesn't screw him into the ground in the process. I don't see the Bills making the playoffs this year, and I also think the drafting of Watkins along with the dumping of SJ will cause more growing pains. This may sound crazy to some, but I like EJ more then Kaepernick, and actually think he has more upside as a pocket passer. Watching EJ run a two min drill was a thing of beauty. He just needs the playing experience and correct development.