hondo in seattle

If I was Belicheck, I'd prepare for the Bills like this.... * I would study Florida game tape of EJ to learn his strengths and weaknesses. * I'd study WSU game tape to learn the same about Tuel. * I'd study game tape of Syracuse to get an idea of what Hackett and Marrone will try to do on offense. * I'd come up with a flexible defensive game plan than can adapt to surprises. * And as l< j stated, my game-planning would include consideration that I'm facing a rookie QB. So I'd (1) expect the Bills to run a lot, and (2) blitz in passing situation and not let the rookie get comfortable. As far as preparing for our defense is concerned, I think Belicheck can already imagine what Pettine will try to do.

I get what you are saying but I don't know if I agree. Whaley could have said something like, "Jeff's done some good things and there are some things he needs to improve." Or, "EJ's hurt so Jeff's gonna need to step up." Or something else equally vague and noncommittal. Saying there's a 'little something to him' seems like a genuine sentiment. Though it's not an overwhelming compliment.

I recall Belichick once saying that the #1 thing he looks for in draft prospects and FAs is coachability. He said they give players hard coaching in NE and he doesn't want players who can't be coached or don't want to be coached.

Byrd's attitude is crappy right now but we have a year - maybe two - to change that. Byrd's only getting to know Donnie Henderson, Pettine and Marrone right now for the first time. Let's see if they can build a rapport with him and get him excited about being a Bill.

When we drafted EJ, I was hoping that Kolb would do well during camp & preseason and be our opening day starter. And then we could work EJ in when he was fully ready. Now I'm praying for EJ's knee and really hoping I see him under center against the Pats. It's curious that Tuel, an UDFA, may be the only rookie QB starting when the 2013 season commences. Football, like life, is so unpredictable.

I understand and respect your logic. And I agree it's better to gamble on a future superstar than to settle for certain (and replaceable) mediocrity. But how long should Marrone and his staff wait for the potential to manifest? How much loafing can they suffer before cutting bait? How long should they risk Rogers work-ethic and other issues becoming contagious? I think they gave Rogers enough time and made the right decision.

I don't get people still standing by Rogers. But I stand by what I wrote a couple days ago... Roger's problems go way beyond his drug history. Here's what one predraft scouting report had to say about his weaknesses: "Off-field maturity and on-field effort have been issues. Stops his route at times if not the primary target. Body language on the field can be defeating. Lacks great explosiveness to run by corners, no extra gear. Will struggle to track the football at times. Not a very instinctual receiver, doesn't always run the routes he should, doesn't fight to get open when the play breaks down." http://www.nfl.com/d...gers?id=2540179 We've already heard of similar things at St. John Fisher - like Rogers loafing back to the huddle instead of running like the other receivers. This doesn't sound like the kind of guy that Marrone wants on the team. Right now the NFL WR that Dar'rick Rogers most resembles is Charles Rogers who also had tremendous potential but never accomplished anything as a pro because of issues with maturity and consistency of effort. "Potential" just isn't worth much without some other important attributes. Ike Hilliard will have to do heroic work as receivers coach for Rogers to survive the Turk. http://forums.twobillsdrive.com/topic/160674-bills-wrs-revisited/page__st__40 It takes more than an athletic receiver's body to be a good NFL WR. Rogers just doesn't currently possess the necessary mix of skills and attitude needed to succeed.

Evidentally, Marrone wasn't seeing the same thing. Or, probably more precisely, he was seeing too much of the bad stuff and not enough of the good stuff.

I think Whaley will be scouring the waiver wire for a CB over the next couple days. I wonder who might become available.

Color me unsurprised. The guy loafs, doesn't pay attention and rarely produces. What kind of message would Marrone be sending if he kept Rogers based on perceived potential? It just wasn't going to happen.

http://www.nfl.com/n...out-eight-weeks Our best young player on offense (EJ) is hurt. Now our best young player on defense is hurt. Not an auspicious beginning to the 2013 season. Greg Rosenthal of NFL.com writes: "It's a crushing blow for new defensive coordinator Mike Pettine. The former New York Jets coordinator was going to count on Gilmore to cover the opposing team's best receiver, like Antonio Cromartie and Darrelle Revis once did in New York. This injury will limit Pettine's creativity and force a rough-looking starting cornerback group to start the season."

Like some others, I think the Bills keep Tuel. I don't think Hackett relishes the idea of trying to teach 2 QBs his offense with 2 weeks remaining before the opener. Let's remember that Hackett is OC and QB coach both. He doesn't have a lot of time for make-up classes. That leaves Leinart, Lewis and Kolb battling for one spot. I'm guessing Kolb goes to IR and Lewis goes to PS if still eligible.

CJ had a cut? And for that some fans didn't want him back in? A cut? A boo-boo? If he had torn a ligament or sprained an ankle or something like that, Marrone would need to keep him out. Otherwise, I agree with San Jose.

I understand why OBD decided to sign Kolb and give him a look. But I couldn't agree with you more about TJax. Kolb had a record of fragility and to get rid of the only other veteran QB struck me as strange. Depending on EJ's recovery, we could end up starting Matt Leinart against the Pats with a mere two weeks of preparation. Bad news. For the Bills sake, but - more imporantly - for Kolb's sake, I hope he's okay and able to safely resume his career. And I hope to see a healthy EJ under center when NE comes to town.

This has been discussed in other threads. The old K-Gun often acted in a hurry-up mode. Then again, that offense had Hall-of-Famers on it: Kelly, Thomas, Lofton and - hopefully - Reed. With all that talent, it was likely to get first downs. I wonder how wise it is to run a up-tempo offense with much less talent. It's going to produce a lot of 3-and-outs. I really hope Pettine and the Bills staff are working hard on the conditioning of the defensive unit, because they're going to be on the field a lot.

I share the bolded concern. I was surprised and dismayed when we cut TJax. That left us with one experienced-but-fragile QB and two rookies. The fragile vet has been hurt twice since then and now we're flying in retreads who have no understanding of our offense. I get that they wanted to give EJ more reps. But whether Jackson was in camp or not, they could have given EJ exactly the number or reps they wanted.

I think Chan was a better de facto OC than most people give him credit for. When Chan came to Buffalo, we had a poor line, no QB worth mentioning, a forgettable TE, one WR with talent and a couple good RBs. Somehow he got some decent production out of that. CJ averaged 6 yards per carry last year partly because Chan didn't run him until he puked. Chan carefully picked the optimal times and optimal plays to use CJ. And now Levitre is gone. So, yeah, I am worried about the running game. Then again, it's only preseason. We don't know yet how effectively Marrone & Hackett will maximize the talent they do have.

The two preseason wins proved nothing. The preseason loss proved nothing. We're probably not as good as we looked against the Colts. We're probably not as bad as we looked against the Skins. We won't find out until the regular season gets under way. I'm taking this game like any other preseason game... with a grain of salt.

+1

It was painful to watch but I hope this ends the silliness that Tuel ought to be allowed to compete with EJ for the starting spot.

I've seen his highlights. It's the 'lowlights' that concern me. Maybe I don't know how to evaluate college ball but even his highlights don't convince me he's better than some of the other receivers we have on the roster. Guys who loaf, guys who don't block, guys who don't run the right routes, aren't great by definition. A lot has to change for Rogers to become great. I'm reallying hoping Hilliard, Hacket and Marrone can make those changes in Rogers and prove you right. I'm just not exactly expecting it.

If I drank beer, I'd drink one for Ronald F. Theel. I was living in California at the time of "The Comeback." My wife (now ex) came in when the score was 35-3 and tried to persuade me to take her shopping. Although I was miserable, I refused to budge. She asked, "Has any team ever come back from a score like that?" I wasn't definitively sure but grumbled, "No... but anything's possible." She responded with something like, "Well then, don't be stupid. You know they're going to lose so it's better to take me shopping." I wish I had instead been able to watch the game in person with someone like your dad. You have great memories to treasure. May he rest in peace.

Carlin Isles was both a sprinter and football player (RB) at Ashland University. As you can imagine watching the vid, he was a talented KR. However, at 5' 8" and 157 lbs, he's just too small for the NFL. But his speed, open field running skills, and understanding of angles make him a natural at rugby. Still new to the sport, he's tearing it up. http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/9482734/carlin-isles-future-us-rugby http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlin_Isles

I don't get all the love for Rogers. Yes, I know he's strong & athletic and that some draft pundits (not all) thought he might have 1st or 2nd round talent. They thought that about Woods, too. The difference is that Woods was actually drafted in the 2nd round because he's a polished, talented WR with his head on straight. Rogers wasn't drafted in the 1st, 2nd, or any round because not a single team thought he was worthy of even a 7th round pick. Professional scouts, apparently, have no love for the guy. I hope the Rogers lovers on this board turn out to be correct and the scouts wrong. But from what we've seen of Rogers so far in preseason (and what's been reported about Rogers performance in practices), he's on the bubble. And if he gets cut, he won't end up on the PS because some other team will sign him to kick the tires and see if there's anything there. Roger's problems go way beyond his drug history. Here's what one predraft scouting report had to say about his weaknesses: "Off-field maturity and on-field effort have been issues. Stops his route at times if not the primary target. Body language on the field can be defeating. Lacks great explosiveness to run by corners, no extra gear. Will struggle to track the football at times. Not a very instinctual receiver, doesn't always run the routes he should, doesn't fight to get open when the play breaks down." http://www.nfl.com/draft/2013/profiles/darick-rogers?id=2540179 We've already heard of similar things at St. John Fisher - like Rogers loafing back to the huddle instead of running like the other receivers. This doesn't sound like the kind of guy that Marrone wants on the team. Right now the NFL WR that Dar'rick Rogers most resembles is Charles Rogers who also had tremendous potential but never accomplished anything as a pro because of issues with maturity and consistency of effort. "Potential" just isn't worth much without some other important attributes. Ike Hilliard will have to do heroic work as receivers coach for Rogers to survive the Turk.

I agree with this. And how about the ability to read defenses? Which implies a wililngness to study film.