zonabb

Production comes down to QB play and offensive systems/play calling. SW had a far more productive and impressive college career because Clemson threw a ton, LSU did not. SW had two yards less per catch though. Does that make it worse or is it because of the system... lots of screens and quick, short receptions? To me the argument about who is better, what the value of the picks were comes down to context. If you want to just look at stats alone, ODB clearly had the better year. Does that make him better? Does that him the better player when its all said and done? Who has the better QB? Who has the better offensive system?

Exactly what Sammy had. The Giants in the last month made ODB the focal point of the passing game and arguably the entire offense. The Bills refused to target Sammy religiously. ODB had 21 targets in his last game. Sammy had 30 targets in four December games and ODB had 53.

A top 16 QB, functional OL, and conscious OC away. Seriously if we get a QB who can be as good with his completion percentage as Orton was behind a line that can run and pass back with any level of improvement and an OC who can be assertive and creative it's a playoff team even if they lose Hughes.

I'll say it again... my favorite team plays in a league I totally detest. This project is receiving hundreds of millions in govt subsidies, apparently as high as $550M (http://www.fieldofschemes.com/2013/03/18/4735/falcons-stadium-cost-to-taxpayers-counting-hidden-subsidies-554-million/). The league has gone from an everyman sport to a wealthy persons sport that pimps the middle and lower classes to support the wealthy. It's amazing. I love how the team website coolly blows it off as expected ways of doing business, as something par for the course. http://newstadium.atlantafalcons.com/funding/ In particular is the statement that the team will take on risk and liability, like that's somehow doing taxpayers a favor rather than the expectation for a private, for-profit entity. They also try to use the "hey the hotel tax is paid for by visitors." True enough in many cases but that's still a tax on the public AND more troubling, could be used, I don't know, for education, transportation, infrastructure, or other actual need of Atlanta residents rather than make billionaire more wealthy while excluding a huge portion of the local population from every attending a game. I am a die hard Bills fan and season ticket holder but I will never pay a PSL, I'll stay home for free and watch it on TV when possible. Part of me hopes, and this isn't hyperbole or for effect, that the NFL dies off. The concussion thing is a major problem and could be costly, the continually make the product actually worse to attend and watch not better, the league is filled with miscreants and unlikable characters that are celebrated and the owners and players are greedy ingrates. It's hard to deal with a sport when the business of it is constantly shoved in your face and we're supposed to just accept it all even when it comes out of our pockets. The continual drive for profit and wealthy eventually runs dry, it always does. Every single major company has hit hard times and the NFL will in the future, and I hope the English Premier League's popularity grows and grows and grows and soccer takes its place... might happen as more kids play soccer and parents keep their kids out of football. So PG can go drill another well to build his stadium because if he asks for public money, I'm out.

Underwhelming but at this point I can be talked into anyone. John Harbaugh was a special teams and DB coach and never an NFL coordinator so who knows. In fact he was never a head coach. So there isn't a blueprint... Other than finding a QB.

Nothing to see here. Emeritus in academics means you've hung around after retirement to teach or have your azz kissed by younger faculty who laugh at you because you can barely use a computer. Seriously sounds ike these two were advisors and ceremonial more than anything. Buddy Nix was apparently retiring at the end of this anyway so it's basically telling the retirees collecting a check for doing very little that the gig is up. Nothing against any of them but I suspect they've had very little impact over the last few years. The bigger question is, does TP/KP increase the scouting staff with some younger blood and increase scouting expenses?

Still not a fan of TP selecting the coach and although he gets kudos for buying the team and keeping it here, I'm not going to let that cloud my concern over his role with the football operations. It's his toy, he can do what he wants. But you can bet the flame job coming from the local media if he picks the coach and the guy bombs! I think anyone can pick someone to coach based on his performance in an interview but as we've seen, even GMs get fooled by great interviews (see: Williams, Gregg). I'd like to believe that TP is taking some advice from someone with football sense.

I'm posing this an honest question because no one here, as far as I can tell, has played QB in the NFL, been an NFL GM or coach, or has much more to go on other than stats and what they see on the field. So we're all in the same boat with that regard. I will preface this by saying there are some issues with EJ that stand out, mainly accuracy and decision-making, although I feel like has was showing more ability to work through reads by the time he was benched. But here's are a few things before the question... The NFL clearly is about having a QB. Teams clearly overdraft them given their limited supply and desperation. You'd pay $5 for a glass of water if you were dying of thirst rather than wait to see if you could get it for $1. That's basically how drafting QBs functions. I would say lots of GMs draft them in this manner, just look at the track record of first round busts. Others get lucky, like Seattle who signed a mediocre QB as a free agent who threw 6 TDs in his only start the prior season and still drafted Wilson in the third. That FA never saw the field not because the Seahawks were especially smart, but rather they used a later pick to get QB on the roster. So here's the question because everyone is clamoring that we wasted the 2015 first round pick for Watkins yet if we just agree that EJ is garbage, we've wasted the 2013 pick on 14 games. How much time is enough time for a QB? Is it always and should it always bee one and done? It's fundamentally about what used to be the way QBs were groomed and the way they are now. Some QBs are OK from the get go, some had to go through some major lumps. Troy Aikman was flat out garbage his first and second years. He was no superstar statistically and he won three Super Bowls with very good teams built the old fashioned way... run and stop the run and don't make mistakes. His first three years were: 11 games, 9 TDs, 18 INTs 15 games, 11 TDs, 18 INTs 12 games, 11 TDs, 10 INTs His fourth season, he was 16 games, 23 TDs, 14 INTs, and a Super Bowl win. Obviously the eras are different and his numbers seek pedestrian in the fourth year but contextually he was among the best.... 2nd in pass completed, 4th in yards, tired for 3rd in TDs (leader was Young with 25) 3rd in rating and did not finish in the top 10 in INTs. To contextualize it some more.... Kelly that year was 5th in completions, 3rd in yards (beat Aikman by 12 yards), was tied with Aikman for 3rd in TDs and was First in INTs with 19. If they dumped him after his first year or two, he;d be labeled a bust. In my mind, the Dolphins are doing it right with Tannehill. Look at his three year progression.... He's played every game and every single stats has improved.He's gone from 12 to 24 to 27 TDs and dropped from 13-17-12 INTs (slight blip there). His rating completion rate is 58%, 60%, 66% and his rating is 76, 81, 92. In this win now league, I think teams make the mistake of starting guys who are raw, typically on horrible teams behind horrible lines, and expecting miracles. I'm not saying EJ is the savior but I'm not one to throw the kid to the curb because when you look at his stat line, it's not that atrocious. When you consider the patience shown by Miami and the progress they've made, you have to wonder what EJ might have been like next season if he started all year and had a good coach. People are saying get Cutler in her, he threw of 28 TDs last year and can sling the ball around the field. Well basically, Tannehill had a better all around year than Cutler and maybe, just maybe, that's what we'd be staring at for next season if EJ had started all along, had this year Sammy, hopefully an improved OL, and a defense that's championship caliber. Instead, the lack of patience has gotten them where? And will the QB in 2015 be better than EJ with two years under his belt? To me, EJ shows more promise and skills than Rob Johnson (30 Bills starts), JP Losman (33 Bills starts), and Trent Edwards (34 Bills starts).

I wish I were kidding but at this point, I suspect someone will given how crazy and rumor-filled this has been. I wasn't suggesting someone do it, I'm just asking who it will be!!!!!

So who's going to camp out at Prior and see who gets off this plane at 12:55??? JK http://flightaware.com/live/flight/XSR960

Well, get our an organizational chart for the Bills and define who is "high ranking" and then you'll have some idea. My point is, high ranking in what department? Ticket sales? Stadium facilities? Concessions? Reporters get to conveniently hide behind the sources and never have to reveal them. It's actually very good for driving clicks but also, in my opinion, drives credibility close to zero. The goal of the media in 2014 is to get clicks, which is now how ad revenue is generating as the print media is dead. So clicks = money. Once you know that this is the business model, it's very hard to lend any credibility to a single report that uses anonymous sources. Plus, they're trying to be timely and again, timely means report anything, anywhere, anytime whether credible or not. I've said it before, the media is on the same rung as lawyer and prostitute, especially the print media which has to work so hard to maintain a foothold in the digital age.

At this point, this entire situation has spun so far out of control it's not worth even trying to make sense of it. Again, I try to think rationally and what makes little sense to me, if true, is the Pegula's dragging Doug Whaley into the interview process to interview his potential replacement. Is that a good, professional look for a billionaire who just bought a team and is trying to change the outside perception and internal culture? Just hire someone already. I'm all for being thorough but at this point without a single vacancy filled, I'd like to see them hire from all available candidates than play musical chairs and get stuck with whoever is left.

RIP for sure. Cancer is an SOB and a brutally scary reality for too many people. I was never a fan of his schtick and feel like espn and sportscenter began the downfall of sports media, the constant need to be bigger than the topic, the dumbing down of the delivery for the lowest common denominator, and the need to drive ratings by seeing who could make the most ridiculous "take" or moronic metaphor. That aside, I'm saddened nonetheless when a 49 year old man whonseemed to be a generally good guy dies too soon from something so horrific.

Yeah I watch the Bills only because I can't dedicate myself to waste time watching commercial after commercial after commercial while watching teams I don't care about play in a league I hate. But I tuned into this one hoping to watch the girls lose. But it only reinforced my disdain. I actually spend my sports tv time in the weekend killing two hours watching EPL with no commercials. Ultimately, the nfl will cannibalize itself with its greed, the issues of concussions and their legacy, and a league filled with more miscreants per capita than all other leagues combined.

It's Games like that with calls like that which makes me hate this league more every week. The team I was born to root for plays in a league I absolutely hate.

The only argument that is valid is for someone to go and show how the FA moves and the drafted players from Whaley are worse than every other GM out there. It's about context, which people either intentionally or ignorantly ignore. If you're going to JUST point out the bad, that's an obvious bias because it conveniently allows you to ignore the good. First you need to start, or better yet accept, that no GM is perfect. I read this morning that 31% of the players on 2013 rosters were undrafted free agents. That should tell you how much of a crap shoot the draft is. If you look at the 2011-2014 drafts, those with Whaley in some vapacity (I leave out 2010 since he was only here a few months and I'm not sure how much of a role he played), they are the best drafts this team has had in terms of hitting on the early picks, which is what you must do. Yeah, EJ hasn't panned out, but there's a lot to be said for the value of the position and the tend to overdraft QBs just to try and get one. If we look at that draft, all the QBs sucked and because they were dead set on picking one, you could argue that they were destined to fail. Sure they could have not picked one, which has been rounded decried on this board by those stating the Patriots have drafted more QBs since Brady than the Bills. But outside that, three of the four first rounders during this time are Dareus, Gilmore, Watkins. Not a bust in the bunch and most would suggest Gilmore and Watkins are likely pro bowlers. Contrast that to 2006-2009 (again leaving out 2010, altough it was Spiller so make what you want of it)... Whitner, Lynch, McKelvin, Maybin. In terms of careers, I'd say one has done very well but we traded him. One was one of the buggest busts ever. The other two, McKelvin and Whitner, has not played up to their top 11 draft slots. Prior to that, going back to 2000, first round picks were Flowers, Clements, Mike Wlliams, McGahee, Evans, and Losman. Two good ones, Evans and Clements, another RB they traded away and three more monster busts in Flowers, Wiliiams and Losman. The point here is, you have to hit on the first rounders. It's obvious from the team and the league that first round QBs are a crap shoot and honestly, you should expect a lot of busts. But the rest of the time, you have to nail them because of the talent level and Whaley's time here they've done well. Throw in the 2nd and 3rd rounders as players who can and should contribute as starters if not as backups, you have Aaron Williams, Sheppard (who became HIghes), Searcy (a 4th actually), Cordy Glenn, Bradham (4th), Woods, Alonso, Preston Brown. A few in there have fizzled or underwhelmed like Goodwin, Graham and Kouandjio. If you expect 7 starters every year from the draft, you're not paying attention. 27 players were drafted and didn't make rosters last year, about 10% of drafted players. And all were from rounds 5-7. So put another way, 27 out of 116 picks (includes the awarded compensatory picks) didn't make it. That's 24% of late rounders and a number likely similar every year. This team has made a concerted effort to draft better, they've stated that building through the draft is how to sustain winning football and his record and contribution is pretty good at this point. If you want to offer up a better GM to replace him that's currently available, go for it but I don't know that person exists right now. You'd be taking a guy who is what Whaley was 5 years ago. Young with potential. This is a good read on the historical effiicient of picks by team. Buffalo ranks a putrid 30th. The team Whaley was cut his teeth with and learned how it's done? Second.

It would seem odd that a contract with a 3-day out window would preclude the person from seeking a job or offer during those three days. Simply, I can't see that clause stating "you have three days to opt out but during those three days, you can't consider or seek employment elsewhere." If I'm going to ask for that clause as a coach, I damn sure want to be sure I can guage the market for my services during these three days so as to better evaluate my marketplace and help make a decision to opt out or stay.

My first preferences is that Pegula pays for it, all of it. After that, I don't care.

These guys are running the show

Good topic and I'm sitting here and my biggest concern right now, which goes to this GM/coach issue is the reports that a new coach will report directly to Pegula. I have all the confidence in the world Pegula can run a fracking company and drill wells. I have major concerns over the potential bisection of the direct GM-coach relationship and Pegula taking an active role. My hope is that this is temporary until the hire a prez of football ops who would oversee both the GM and coach. To that end, I think Whaley is legit and firing him would be a step backwards. So I'm hoping that connecting the dots that because Whaley is involved in the coach search that he's staying and the prez of football ops is the end game with Pegula stepping back afterward.

Booooo.... The idea of a new stadium with my taxpayer dollars (it's inevitable) that'll drive up my ticket costs isn't cause for celebration for me. Now, if Pegula wants to pay for it with his own money and keep my ticket prices in line with where they are, I'm in!!!

No he can't but some talent would be nice. Are you suggesting that Chris Williams, Cyrus and Cyril were talented and the coach couldn't get it out of him? And same with Pears and Urbik? By all accounts, those are not even five mediocre talents. This isn't a "coach em up" situation with the OL. They need to be athletic and smart and if they are, they play (see: Henderson, Seantrel). Spending doesn't equal quality. I don't shop at Walmart for this reason.

From the BN... mayor red flag in my mind if true. A highly placed Bills source told The Buffalo News the next head coach will report directly to Terry Pegula. Oops... didn't read entire thread. sorry! Still a major problem.

Never disliked the guy. I appreciated his no nonsense approach, his disdain for the media, what seemed like building a team that would follow him; playing guys he thought gave him the best chance to win (Henderson over Kujo is a great example). The weird thing was up until a week ago, I wanted Hackett gone but was OK with Marrone. After reading some very good analysis and seeing some all-22 breakdowns from others, I was OK with both staying. Orton was not that good and the OL was horrible (don't think all the blame falls on coaching, the talent sucked... Urbik and Pears come on). Players just didn't execute and when you can't execute because you're not good or smart enough, those things can't be fixed. I'm actually disappointed he left. I saw an upward trajectory for once and was all for continuity. I don't fault him for leaving really, it's a business. The guys has been vilified more than an FA who spurned us ever. Not sure why a coach gets held to the higher standard when their guarantees from ownership are the same as a player.

Tell you what, Schwartz is like every other retread of hot coordinator... nothing without a QB. I'd take him actually. He may have just lost that team in Detroit for whatever reason. I'd take him over Gase, Reich and any other coordinator mentioned so far.... 1) continuity and the players like him. Put one of his staffers in at DC and that D stays pretty good and 2) he's been a HC before and I think that matters. Like all of us, I'm sure he learned a lot from his gig in Detroit so why not. The caveat is, unlike Gase and Reich, he'll need a majorly good OC and who is out there? It's a tough call. Here's the issue.... if they pass him over, he's gone. No one sticks around after being dissed. Marrone will pay him more if he gets a job, or someone else will too.