Sisyphean Bills

Nix? Boy they are busy! I didn't even know he unretired yet again!

His best attribute was he was tall. It wasn't enough to have a long career in the NFL.

Not totally. I was thinking we could open this thread up to be a general nostalgia tour on eras past and trades of legend...

Can we invite some Lions fans still carrying the Bobby Layne torch to this party?

The problem with the "bad guards" excuse is that it doesn't explain why Wood loses mano-on-mano match-ups, which he does with some regularity.

Your points might be better received if they didn't come across as you talking down to everyone. I know there were daily meetings with three guys in a room. Whaley, Marrone, and Brandon.

I did not write that you can't find arguments to try and support the hire. Obviously, one can and you did. I wrote curious because Can't Hackett is a very inexperienced coach period and an objective mind would wonder about the decision process. Bills fans are aware of straw-filled shirts being hired as the OC in Buffalo. Chan Gailey did exactly that. But it was also very clear that Gailey was calling all the offensive plays himself. Is that what we are supposed to think Marrone is doing too?

To be fair though, the structure that Pegula puts in place to manage the team need not have any resemblance to the one Ralph had. So there is no comparison. Russ Brandon was the guy that told everyone "everything goes through me" in his press conference after his last promotion to proxy-Owner/President by Ralph Wilson. I've read several posts preaching the angle that Russ is a hands-off delegator who wants to avoid the sticky stuff flying off the decision fan. But it is not forgotten that in the press conference a couple years ago, he said he had complete control and everything went through him and said this very emphatically. FWIW, I happen to agree that he prefers to delegate responsibility. PS: Isn't Mrs. Pegula the President now? (OK, She's listed as Owner on the website. <shrug>)

I knew what you meant. Can't Hackett was a curious hire at the time. Two years in, it looks more like a serious blunder on Marrone's part.

Fair point. It's far from clear that the players didn't just !@#$ up their assignments as well. I was going with the assumption that the design was for him to fire out and drive block since that's what he does. Hogan's jab step does give him a little separation, but the tight corner recognizes the situation almost immediately and reacts quickly and correctly. I've seen enough of this offense to believe that defenses are very dialed in to what Can't Hackett is calling. I don't think making Hackett practice (with or without pads) is a short-term solution to make up his lack of experience. He's getting paid to get schooled at this point.

I hear you... but how different would it be for the Bills to hit the ground running for a change?

This is not on Orton. Orton only has 1 place to go with the football here. Coming out of the bunch formation, two receivers run down the field and block. They aren't options. The Raiders corner reads the play and puts himself between the QB and the WR to defend the smoke screen. And he does exactly that. It's a trivial play design run into a defense that is ready for it. There are 2 blockers and 4 defenders. The play doesn't have a good chance of success as the Raiders are pressing the bunch and prepared for the smoke screen. What's interesting is the entire Raiders defense shifts toward their right other than the mike and Woodson. They have zero respect for the Bills running. I suspect they also played the tendencies that the Bills were unlikely to sneak Chandler out for an easy toss and catch as well. Woodson is 5 yards off, so there would be a chance to pick up 1 yard there. PS: This could go in the Eric Wood thread too. This shows Wood blocking on roller skates here. It is impressive how quickly and deep he is blown backwards and the pocket collapses. Chandler also almost completely whiffs on his block.

I think you are being negative, Negativo.

Any word on if Manuel is on the trading block?

Tank Carder too?

He's not the first guy voted off the island ... but he's not winning his battles. (It was a great tackle though. )

It's too bad Pettine didn't clean house on the offensive side of the staff. But then, he probably didn't need to read the tea leaves.

Does this come with a "get out of jail free" card?

Spiller in a Chip Kelly offense? That could be ... sick. Got your popcorn?

Wasn't he on the "culture change" mailing list?

Didn't I already point out all this **** too?

The picture does look bad in many ways. A few comments... Is the Bill on the 31.5 yard line kneeling? in prayer? It looks like 3 Raiders are charging through the hole behind him. Orton's arm shows that he is in the middle of throwing the ball. Going back to (1), if Orton were standing there still making reads, would he be a second away from taking a sack? The Raider at the 39 with his foot in the top yellow circle looks like he dropped his own coverage and is jumping the outside route. I'm going to guess that this is Woodson. The guy has been around a long, long time and this is his calling card move. Is Chandler even visible in the flat? There is a mass of big guys between Orton and Chandler here. I'm sure Orton doesn't have time at this point to pivot all the way back to and find Chandler. And part of that is Orton isn't all that athletic. Do we know the play design? Did the coverage Orton thought he saw dictate who he was going to throw to? Did he read it correctly?

Maybe they can buy a fathead and stick it on the wall.

The weather in New England, Green Bay, and Pittsburgh isn't all sunshine and pina coladas.