thewildrabbit

I think Bills fans have a right to complain about a player drafted in the 3rd round that everybody but Buddy Nix had pegged as a 5th-7th rounder. Mayock's take: "I had him going in the seventh round. He can fly, though."

Going into last season with no NFL experienced OC, no QB coach whatsoever, or veteran QB on the roster wasn't the best way to coach up three rookie QB's in my view. Then expecting that rookie OC to set the game plans, call plays on game day ...all the while being the only tutor, mentor to the three rookie QB's on the roster was laying the entire offense on a coach who had never done any of that at the NFL level. So, whats changed this year? Jim Hostler was added to the Bills coaching staff as "senior offensive assistant" . A man who spent the last 6 years as the WR coach for the Ravens, and has 16 years of NFL experience. Will this singular upgrade to the offense be enough to see EJ, and the other two young QB's develop properly? I know I'd be more confidant in the whole offensive situation if it were more of an "known" experienced QB coach. I'd also like to see a vet QB on the roster to help EJ & Lewis.

Bills fans could do worse then having Trump owning the team, as at least he would make a complete effort to build a winner. He also stated he would keep the team in Buffalo.

While Thaddeus Lewis looked somewhat better then EJ last season in both their limited starts, he should have. Lewis wasn't technically a rookie last season. Although he does have very limited NFL experience with one prior NFL start in 2012. Lewis signed with the Rams back in 2010 as an undrafted free agent soon after the NFL draft that year. The Rams waived him on Sept 4th of that year, and he was claimed by the Browns. He then spent nearly two seasons with the Browns on their regular roster, and practice squad. In 2012 Lewis started a game for the Browns against the Steelers #1 ranked defense, and went 22 of 32 for 204 yards one TD, one INT. Lewis was waived by the Browns in May 2013, and the Lions claimed him. The Bills traded LB Chris White to the Lions for Lewis in August 2013, and placed him on the practice squad. Lewis also has a much better pedigree from College where at Duke, 4 years, 47 games with a 127.69 QB rating while completing 59.4 percent of his passes for 10,065 yards, 67 TD's, 40 INT's. And he won all four bowl games at Duke while earning the nickname "the champ". Perhaps being 6'2'' 220 lbs is his biggest drawback. (more like 6'1'') Also, Lewis doesn't have a top NFL arm, and tends to throw behind his receivers. That is, when he isn't dumping off to the RB's. Lewis was invited to the scouting combine and Tuel was not. Tuel had a 6.9 yards avg in college. Lewis had a 6.7 yards avg in college. I honestly don't know why the Bills would let Lewis hit the practice squad, and not let Tuel near it. OTOH, prototypical NFL QB EJ 6'5, 240 lbs with a cannon for an arm, and huge hands along with a great work ethic. Erik James spent two years behind Christian Ponder at Florida, and finished with 7741 passing yards, 47 TD's, 28 INT's. A 150.4 QB rating, 66.9 percentage. 8.6 yards avg. All this kid needs is good coaching, and more NFL experience. Don't forget that the late, great Bill Walsh stated that it generally takes 3-4 years to properly develop an NFL QB. Now, the real question is, will EJ get the proper coaching from this current staff to elevate him into a top NFL QB. We will find out this year.

What happens when an unknown QB steps in behind center is that opposing teams usually prefer to sit in coverage's to see what the new QB's tendency's are rather then blitz. Their policy is its better to play it safe then be burned. This is why some new QB's can look surprisingly good until teams figure out how to defend against them. A well scripted, disciplined offense can hide certain tendencies for quite a long time but eventually the defensive minds will figure out what they are and neutralize them. Which is why you need a QB with a strong, powerful NFL arm, a quick release, and an even faster ability to read a defense and understand where the ball has to go. Jeff Tuel has only one of those abilities that I see. Jeff Tuel did exactly what you would expect an undrafted free agent QB who only won 4 of 26 games in college to do in a critical NFL situation....he choked!! Think about it, 4 wins, 22 losses. I have to think that most experienced NFL OC's would have never put the ball in that rookies hands on 3rd and goal. They would have gone the conservative route and ran it again on third down, and should that fail, they then kick a field goal. But alas, the Bills have an NFL rookie OC calling plays. I blame that loss more on the coaches then the bad execution of the play....which should have been anticipated. I suppose they forgot about the deer in headlights QB that took the field against Cleveland after EJ left the game. Tuel reminds me a lot of a of a mini-me of Ryan Fitzpatrick, smart, quick release, and has good quickness for escape-ability. That said, he doesn't have the NFL journeyman experience or ability to call protections or read defenses, much less the ability to find the open receiver and deliver the ball to them in under 2 seconds consistently. Tuels college career. 2009- 6 games, 2010- 12 games, 2011- 3 games, 2012- 10 games. He appeared in 31 games, and the team won only 5 of those games. http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/jeff-tuel-1/gamelog/ Most fans don't understand the need for an NFL experienced veteran play caller to help those rookies, and that's OK because this regime doesn't get it either. Going into a season with basically three rookie QB's, and no veteran NFL experience at their level, no QB coach at all. Was about as intelligent as replacing the teams best OG with the utter garbage that was outright cut after six weeks. Anyway, I don't think anyone here hates Jeff Tuel or think he sucks so badly that he shouldn't be given a chance. I think I get why the Bills want to keep Tuel on the roster, as the kid can run a wide open passing offense (if he can stay healthy), and he was brought in for a pre draft visit by the Patriots. I just don't think they realize how much it hinders the growth of the other two rookies, or hinders the teams ability to win games when the starter goes out. I can't think of another NFL team carrying three rookie QB's or even three 2nd year QB's on the roster...ever.

This one is easy for me, as I always get Sunday ticket max or what used to be called the super fan pack. That package entails getting every single game played on Sunday rebroadcast on Monday, Tuesday nights after midnight in half hour segments called shortcuts. Where the entire three hour game is reduced to a commercial free, and announcer BS free 1/2 hour game that just simply shows every snap, every play. This allows me to TiVo record every game I want to watch, and then it allows me to watch the games i want over the course of the week. P.S. I used to have your exact same problem with my wife, and watching games on Sunday until I purchased Buffalo Bills season tickets for the entire family and made it a family event to tailgate on Sundays. It also helped that this occurred during the late 80's, early 90's, and held those same seats from 1988 until 1994. Now my wife, and children are all dedicated Bills fans, and wouldn't miss a game. Very true as this has happened many times. The thing is I have never paid full price, and have gotten it free for many years long with new contracts. Like has been stated previously, all you need do is be firm in letting them know you will not be happy unless given extra discounts. It also helps to be a long time customer. Take last year for example as they were very firm in not giving the Sunday ticket for free or even discounted. Eventually they ended up cutting other programming which we never watch, while getting the full package and keeping the monthly bill exactly the same as the rest of the year.

While I have gotten the NFL Sunday ticket all the bells, whistles for free (fan pack, etc), and at various reduced prices over the past decade. Still, the Bastages flat out refuse to upgrade the DVR's to the genie for free. My contract is up this September and we will see if they wish to retain my business or not. Meaning I fully expect to finally get a new genie, and the Sunday ticket for free this upcoming season. After this season the next few years will be debatable on what discounts I can get. Just ask to speak with a supervisor, and let them know they will lose your business if they don't make you happy. Then they usually go the extra mile.

The thing is, who exactly was mentoring all those rookie QB's on the Bills roster last year? No QB coach, a NFL rookie OC, and no experienced QB on the roster who knows how to read coverage's, knows how to call, set protections for the line. Fitz did know his stuff on how to call, set protections for the line, and knew where the ball should go most of the time. He would have been a great mentor for EJ IMHO. I think one of the biggest failures of this regime under Marrone was to not recognize the fact that he needed (still needs) a proven veteran QB to help guide the new QB's, and his bromance for Jeff Tuel will help his in his undoing.

I was gonna say Tenn as first glance, and then thought of all the talent now on their line, as they should do better this season even if Locker gets hurt again by just handing off to Sankey. Then I was going to say Minnesota but then Norv Turner is there as OC. I chose Houston, and gave it a bit more thought and now think that the Jags could have the worst QB situation with Bortles / Henne. The Bills still have some serious questions at both their guard positions, and if not for those two positions I know I'd be much more confidant about the offensive performance in the upcoming season. Anyway, whats funny is almost all the choices have new head coaches, and those teams have all undergone recent regime change....save the Jets who could be changing regimes after this season.

CB pac man jones walked into a Las Vegas strip joint with 80k cash and started ''making it rain" by throwing money at the strippers. NY Giants LBer Lawrence Taylor stated he had just gotten paid, had 90k in his pocket so what else should he do with the money but buy drugs, and girls. Its not just football players, look at Mike Tyson and other pro boxers, MC Hammer, Nicolas Cage. It also happens to so many lottery winners, as people get a windfall of money and they go nuts buying things. It would be smarter to but just one expensive car, watch, house etc. The world is full of stupid people who make stupid decisions. Conversely, there are also many football players out there who make the most of their opportunity, and make the proper choices.

I'm a bit late to this thread, but nevertheless great news indeed!

gee, which one was the first round draft pick who has all the intangibles (save experience) to become an elite QB? or one of the two other QB's on the roster who were both undrafted free agents out of college. I'm pulling for the first round pick...

Although it is nice to see someone talk up the Bills.

wake me up in about 2 1/2 months / yawn

I don't think the loss of Pettine is as big a deal as this post makes it out to be..c'mon massive? Schwartz should be an upgrade over Pettine who knew how to blitz, but had difficulty stopping the run because he was so intent on just the rush. With the #2 pass rush in the league, while it was fun to watch, it certainly didn't win games on its own. "but talent at the running back position can only take you so far when the interior of your offensive line is incapable of consistently creating running lanes" Great sentence, good article! On the second part its good to read that someone else is thinking the same way I do. Every time I'd post about the problems with the line I'd get swarmed by the wolfpack, and be told that the line was fine. Anyway, its not so much the running game per se that needed upgrading as the Bills were #2 in the NFL in rushing yards. It more the fact that the bills couldn't control the line of scrimmage or the clock with either the pass or the run. What good is having the #2 rushing stats if you can't make a first down on third and short by running it, or punch it in the end zone on 1st, 2nd, and goal from the one yard line!! (cough, KC, cough) My favorite part of football has always been watching a team dominate with the run game. Which is something the Bills haven't been able to do in a very long time, and breaking a big run now and again doesn't equal a great run game. So yeah, the interior of the line is where you want your best run blockers. This was another reason as to why the Bills failed to win more then 6 games last season IMO. Even while Andy Levitre was a top graded pass blocker, and a not so great run blocker. Then the team tried to replace him last year with utter garbage, and new LG Chris Williams isn't much of an upgrade over backup Legursky. Then while so many fans here think Kraig Urbik is a quality player, and even PFF grades him as an average starter. WTF good is a player who can be average for 12 games, and then fall on his face for the most important, and critical games? I'm not a big fan. For whatever reason this regime simply doesn't place a high value on the OG position, and proved it again and again with the players they keep trying to fill that LG position with. In my view It would be a massive upgrade should Henderson, and Richardson start and play well at the OG positions. But then consider this teams history with past draft choices, and that almost every player selected after the second round has never become a prominent long term starter. Anyway, ESPN's Cian Fahey got it right with the line IMO. It does remain to be seen if Marrone / Hackett can build a top offense.

I think they are being way to harsh on EJ, and Chris Williams. The latter is about on par with Legursky, and even though PFF graded him a liability with the Rams, they still were going to resign him. The Bills clearly overpaid for a below average player IMO. At least they got TJ Graham, and Jeff Tuel right. I also think Chandler is better then below average, and Kiko should be listed as a good starter.

I thought the same thing. A fast pace only works if your team can drive down the field and score, and If not you are giving up the ball way to quickly. Which is exactly what killed them last year.

WR Mike Williams, and a bunch of "IFs" to go with it.

All I kept reading was how he has to be better then George Edwards. How the team was more suited to run a 4-3 D, and that was Wannstedt's strong point. Just about all I read here was how the Cowboys defense was so great with him as DC, and it was his defenses that beat the Bills in the 92-93 super bowls. Ex Bears HC, ex Dolphins DC / HC. blah, blah, blah. Bills fans are always eternally optimistic this time of the year. Kinda why I said lets wait and see what Schwartz does before we canonize him.

I would agree with the OP that DC Schwartz is probably the best thing that could happen to the team. To me, one singular player isn't going to make or break this season unless the Bills acquired Drew Brees or Andrew Luck in a trade. My reasoning for thinking the new DC might be the best acquisition is simple. No Buffalo Bills team has ever been able to shut down their biggest nemesis in QB Tom Brady. For thirteen years that man has owned the Buffalo Bills, and made them his B word. That could change this year under this new DC. Jim Schwartz is a Bill Belichick disciple, and now is coaching a defense loaded with talent just waiting to be properly focused. This year the Bills could have a top 5 defense in points, yards allowed. JMO.

I kinda disagree about the defensive staff because we really don't know if Schwartz will be another Wannstedt or better then Pettine, which is what everyone expects to see. Just about everyone here thought Wannstedt was going to build a great D because of his storied history of coaching, and we all know how that turned out. This is the fourth DC for the Bills in four years. The defense does have way more established talent then the offense, and fan expectation for the defense is very high again this year. So, who really knows until the actual games begin. I don't see any real hate for Hackett, but what I do see is some very concerned fans who want to see better results then 6-10. Pettine's defense would have been greatly helped had the Bills been able to keep the offense on the field longer then they did last year. This year the Bills are talking about building a "power run scheme" with multiple TE's, RB's on the field at the same time for more blocking. While past stats show that Spiller is actually less effective with more blockers. My take is that was because his blockers were less then effective last year. This year the line should be better with a beast at RT in Cyrus Kouandjio, and here is hoping that OG Cyril Richardson also has an impact this year.

That, and along with a trio of rookie QB's, and one so raw he wasn't drafted. Which weren't the only head scratchers on the offensive side. It was also the two worst players in the entire NFL they tried to plug into Andy Levitre's LG position. It was also keeping Chris Hogan over Da'Rick Rodgers. It was keeping Jeff Tuel off the practice squad over Matt Flynn. I still don't see what they see in Hogan or Tuel ....or the 5.5 million in guarantees for new LG in Chris Williams. Anyway, to Nate Hackett's credit with no QB coach, 3 rookie QB's, and all the injuries and bad players he had to contend with... he didn't do all that badly. He should get better this season with so much talent at WR, RB, and new additions to the O line / coaching staff. Then again, Jauron had two rookie OC's in Turk Schonbert, AVP along with young QB's JP Losman, Trent Edwards and managed 7-9. With new ownership on the horizon I can only think that this staff has this season to get it together, and become a top 15 NFL offense.

What is it with some fans in thinking that because the Bills had the #2 most rush yards in the league it made them a good team? All those rush stats did was prove that running the ball a lot doesn't win games. Its all about controlling the line of scrimmage, and clock. 6-10, and mostly because Hackett's offense couldn't stay on the field. The Bills were one of the worst teams in the NFL last year in time of possession, 3 downs and out, and 3rd down efficiency. Hackett's offense was 22nd in points, 19th in yards. The 522 pass play attempts were actually more then Gailey 511 attempts in 2012. Hackett has a lot to prove this year as he has way more talent on offense then Chan Gailey ever had in Buffalo.

It was his choices for DC is what helped him get fired. Just think if Gailey had built a power run game that controlled the clock, and allowed his defense minimal time on the field ...instead of the marathons his defense would run every game. That running the ball to control the clock would have also kept his inept QB from throwing so much. The talent on offense was in his RB's that he refused to play as much as he should. Gailey even stated he should be giving both Fred Jackson, Spiller 20 touches a game each, and yet he never did.

An abject lie, really? why don't you take the time to read the run plays for ONLY 2013, and get back to me about that abject lie. 2013 up the middle 2013 up the middle 2013 left guard 2013 right guard 2013 right tackle 2013 up the middle 2013 left guard 2013 up the middle 2013 right guard you get the idea....then read over this http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ol RB carries left end 6%, left tackle 11%, mid guard 71%, right tackle 10%, right end 3%