Rocky Landing

Please don't run him up the middle... Please don't run him up the middle... Please don't run him up the middle... Please don't run him up the middle... Please don't run him up the middle... Please don't run him up the middle... ................................................,

A la Brad Smith?

I agree that he has regressed. But, so has our run game, and I feel like the O-line has regressed as well, even with Urbik starting. Cordy Glenn, especially, looked awful on Sunday. It is not just Orton who needs to snap out of it.

Sure. But, the speed at which that pocket often collapsed on Sunday had nothing to do with Orton's mobility, or lack thereof. Also, I think it's unfair to characterize Orton as "immediately hunching over and waiting for the sack." He has actually been pretty good at getting rid of the ball without intentional grounding.

I'm not disagreeing with that, and I am not "excusing" Orton. But, Orton isn't terrible. He's average. I haven't seen "staring down his receivers" as one of his major deficiencies. Hell, he never has time to stare down his receivers. What I do see as his major deficiencies are poor mobility, and an utter inability to throw on the run, or even throw without setting his feet. ALL of his decent throws (and let's be honest- he's had plenty) have occurred when he has had time to set his feet. These are deficiencies that would be mitigated, and far less critical with some decent protection, and a stable pocket. Am I wrong?

Three field goals qualifies as "absolute domination?" That would have to include a terrible O-line, and a constantly unstable pocket.

You would be more convincing if you at least tried to sound like you weren't on a crusade.

I think this game is going to be much closer than people expect, unless the Raiders are playing for first overall draft pick. And I don't think they are going to. I think they're going to stick with Carr at QB, and not go for Mariota. One win will not make even close enough of a difference in their draft options to make easing off a home game worth it. Especially considering the drama surrounding their stadium, and the tenuous nature of staying in Oakland. The Raiders are going to show up on Sunday to win one at home. Unfortunately, that's a big "if."

I would to add O-line to this. In fact, I think Orton (who's biggest downside is his lack of mobility, IMO) would be a much more effective QB with a stable pocket.

This one comes off as just whiney. There are so many varying opinions on these boards that I don't believe the word "dissent" can really apply. And, at what point are "ignorant fans keeping others from posting?" You've started an entire thread based on what I presume to be what you consider "dissent." And you're still here.

God, I hate it when we're favored...

Jeez, cut it out! Schwarz is excelling at DC, so lets promote him to HC, where in the past, he hasn't excelled. Cut Orton, and EJ, and replace them with... er... somebody else ? Who exactly??? Our team has progressed to 8-6, and next week we play the miserable Raiders. We are likely looking at a 9-7 season, which would be our best since '04- a record that has not been better since '99. But, CUT MARRONE. TIME TO REBUILD!!! What are you smoking??? (I wish there were a bong-smoking emoticon)

I'm going to completely disagree with this. We have an average QB, and the O-line looked utterly horrible. I just don't know how better QB play is going to elevate these guys. Maybe if we had a QB who was the slightest bit mobile, and could run away when the pocket falls apart after 2.2 seconds, we wouldn't notice just how bad they played today, but probably not. Our O-line is a mess!

He was terrible this game, that's for sure.

Really exciting game to watch. Our D is amazing. Schwarz, IMO, is a definite upgrade over Pettine. But, wow, our O-line is terrible! Glenn had a terrible game! TERRIBLE!

I would think this would be a harder match up than Denver- even on home turf. We severely limited Manning's passing game. I don't imagine that sort of success agains Rogers. Also, I think the playoff implications for GB are more profound than for the Bills. GB is still playing for their division, and also home field advantage. GB has one of the best home field advantages in the league, IMO, and I think in their eyes home field advantage puts them in the Super Bowl.

How wild would it be to have Jim Harbough as our OC, and Jim Schwarz as our DC?

Morrone's ability- or lack thereof- notwithstanding, passing off "Marrone = Jauron," as some sort of coherent analysis is silly. Using that as the reason that Manuel has underperformed is even sillier.

Watching Orton try to scramble is like watching Chandler trying to run after a catch.

This makes as much sense as anything I've read on this thread thus far. Although, in the words of Clint Eastwood, "'deserve's' got nothin' to do with it." I highly doubt that. But, perhaps a better question would be: who do you think the wide receiver corp would prefer? If you still think it would be a slight margin for EJ, then I'm going to suggest you have a memory deficiency.

I'm not surprised that you didn't answer the question.

If we asked the players, themselves, who do people think they would want starting against the Packers?

I am most certainly not "rooting for Manuel to fail." I'm not declaring him a bust. Nor do I have any illusions of Orton being any sort of long term answer. I just have a memory. If there was some reason I should believe that Manuel is, right now, a better option at QB, I would change my mind. So far, at least on this thread, what I have read is a lot of selective criticism of Orton, paired with selective excuses for Manuel. That you have "convinced" yourself that people trying to look at the situation objectively, and with perspective (but just happen to disagree with you) must resemble your petty insult will do little to sway me. In fact, your petty insult is preposterous. I have not read one comment, in any thread-- not one-- in which someone could be described as idolizing Kyle Orton. I haven't even read anyone making excuses for him. Conversely, to read the people who, like yourself, bash him incessantly, one might think that Watkins had not fumbled the ball (or dropped numerous passes in the last few games, for that matter), that a sixty yard interception return had not been erased by a dumb penalty, that our O-line had been the slightest bit of help to our running backs, or that we had not been suffering from poor play calling.

Has it really been so long since EJ was on the field that so many people have forgotten how bad he was? When Orton took the field in week 5, having not played a single snap, and having only been with the team for five weeks, it was an instant, and obvious improvement. And, he won't really that good. Where were the EJ fans then? Rather quiet, as I recall. The Orton we have now is the same Orton we had then, and no one was particularly excited by it, but it was clear that he gave us a better chance for the season, and he has. And now the EJ fanatics, with some serious memory issues, are trying to sell EJ with a clean jersey. I almost hope they do play EJ against the Packers-- a game we have little chance of winning-- just so we won't have to hear from the EJ fanatics for the rest of the season.

Perhaps watching EJ get destroyed by the Packers would refresh your memory, but I highly doubt Morrone is going to go there.