Sisyphean Bills

It's come up in the past, and this thread brings the idea to mind... During the Dick Jauron era, there was a thread where some posters considered a season a great beacon of successful things to come because the Bills weren't actually eliminated from the playoffs until after 14 games (IIRC). So, a couple of questions: 1) Should we still feel that way? and 2) Where is this magic "happy to have been in it" point exactly? The last time the Bills had their best playoff chance, they got eliminated in the last week of the season by the Steelers backups, but that seemed to have left a bad taste in fans' mouths instead of the Jauron effect that I'm thinking of...

A couple problems with the Graham pick. A whole bunch of clones of his -- small, fast WRs -- went drafted in the 4th round. In order to be evaluated as the right pick in a couple of years, he'll at minimum have to emerge as a better player than all these other slot guys. Trading up for him in the early 3rd meant passing on two [edit: 3] QB prospects, one that was a day 1 starter and another that is now seeing playing time. Either one of these guys would have been an upgrade over Thigpen or Jackson -- heck, Jackson wouldn't even have been available for the Bills to trade a pick for if the Bills had taken Wilson. Slightly longer term, with both Thigpen and Jackson becoming free agents this year, the Bills will be forced to address their QB situation, and fears about whether that guy never becomes great will have to be set aside or another reclamation salvage job undergone.

I would've said cured, but then I saw him get blown over by a forearm like a beach ball taking on a baseball bat.

Well, the last 40+ years of Steelers football has 3 head coaches and each one of them has a Super Bowl ring. And the Cowboys aren't a good example either. From 1960 to 1997, they had 3 coaches all with Super Bowl rings. In fact, they didn't make their current drought until they hired Chan Gailey.

I've seen drum kits at rock concerts take less of a beating than Jason Campbell has in this game. Edit: Gabe Carimi is absolute garbage in this game. Guy plays like a post in concrete.

I have literally read this about every upcoming game for 8 weeks in a row.

Hmm, Schwartz .379 Mariucci .349 Marinelli .208 Jauron .200 Mornhinweg .156 He's not doing great, but it could be worse. Edit for complete list: Mularkey .438 Fewell .429 Jauron .421 Williams .354 Gailey .333

How's that running game?

Or, it could be that Lake Erie is just the drain of professional football.

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Agreed. Another comparison: he reminds me of Mercury Morris as a change of pace speed back.

So, you are saying he sucks like Edwards?

Exactly, Hope. Common sense and being considerate aren't found in overabundance.

Perhaps. Or perhaps the magic wand solution of "just draft one" needs more pixie dust.

His wife was working at the coal mine at the time.

Chuckle. I was actually agreeing with Hopeful, know it's not easy, and realize there are many different circumstances. Maybe you can wrap your head around the fact that I wasn't condemning all parents in grocery stores, just playing Devil's Advocate to Hopeful's post that sometimes the parents really are as much to blame as the wailing child.

How about taking care of the kid's needs first? You know, like a parent?

At the time this thread started, there was some talk about the Wilson pick vs. the TJ Graham pick. In hindsight at this point, it's pretty clear which of those two players is having a bigger impact. It isn't even debatable, really.

Is it odd that only you mentioned Graham and no one mentioned Easley?

Yeah. Still, some parents don't seem to understand that hungry, tired kids don't want to be dragged around on errands at dinner time. Frankly, there are many people that don't seem to be able to think objectively period. Common sense isn't very common any more.

I'm not going to debate the stats. I don't really care. My point was that he's OK as a 3rd back. Sure, he's no world beater and not going to blow back an entire NFL defense. (I was agreeing with Simon that it isn't just the back, the O-line doesn't blow people off the ball.) The point being, the Bills have other problems more worthy of wringing one's hands in fret over.

The one on http://www.nfl.com. Edit: The Steelers have the best trio of backs statistically at 24, 34, and 39.

Perhaps, we're just viewing it from different perspectives. I meant he's not a huge liability in running, catching, or blocking. He's not a superstar, but how many teams have a superstar as their 3rd back, honestly? Where I would say he doesn't have an outstanding set of skills, you indicate he hasn't got one redeemable skill. He's a good teammate and he knows his role. At 59th in the NFL, he's adequate; and, that is his skill. (The Saints #3 back is at 53 by comparison.)

Yep. Choice is a good, solid RB with a complete game -- not a deadbeat 3rd option in the grand scheme of things at all. How many teams are handing the ball to a Fridge Perry in the backfield in 2012 and expecting their 380 pounder to cave in an entire defensive front with nothing but momentum? PS: Thank goodness no one is suggesting drafting another RB in the 1st round.

I know what you are saying. At times, you sort of have to wonder about his vision. No one is perfect, but there are times when CJ just seems out of synch with what's happening around him on the field. If his timing was as good as his pure speed, he'd be Barry Sanders on a rocket.