Prickly Pete

I agree. I don't expect huge, immediate changes to the "football operations"...only to things like ticket prices.

This is a point that I've raised before, but haven't seen discussed. Reading defenses is EJM's glaring weakness, and when they changed to a ball control offense, he was doomed.

Then maybe that was a fatal mistake. Can't make fatal mistakes...you're fired.

There are plenty of bad decisions from this staff that have nothing to do with the QB. Game management!

I don't don't disagree, he might already have lost the job. But I don't believe that there is a predetermined number of wins/losses that gets him fired/retained.

Yeah, that's why I mentioned Orton. Thanks very much.

I don't think Marrone is going to be judged strictly by his record. Like 8-8 = fired, 9-7 = retained. That's way too simplistic. Were I the owner, I would firstly want to see how the team responds from here on out. Secondly, I want to see the team get better. I wanna see improvement in the areas where they are struggling. I wanna see that the staff can correct problems. For instance, if they are able to make a big leap in Red Zone production....if they get the running game going... If they just continue to suck, and tread water....fired

Great comparison. I hadn't thought of him, but it captures the essence of Cutler. In fact, I think Jeff George was better (but even more of a jerk).

Yep. It's hard to lay everything on the OC, when he is working within the limitations of the QB (and has to appease the head coach). With the repeated runs in to the middle of the line though, if it is the QB, it's up to the OC or head coach to get the QB in line.

Then how come some coaches consistently manage to make the right decision, and Marrone doesn't? It's not arbitrary, it's being prepared. If he can't handle it himself, get an assistant to help. I was all for considering it a 4-down situation in the KC game. I would have been pissed if he didn't go for it. BUT, chucking it into the end zone 4 plays in a row was stupid (some of that was likely Orton's fault).

Pfft..Manning would tear it up with this line. So would Brady, Luck, Rodgers...A good QB puts a defense on it's heels, OR if the defense wants to blitz, picks them apart.

Yeah, the game management is definitely Marrone, and I have to think that Hackett is working within guidelines set by Marrone, as far as the general approach overall, and to each game is concerned.

I doubt Schawrtz will stay if Marrone leaves and he isn't given the HC job. He has already been a head coach, and why would he want to stay on as a DC under someone that didn't hire him? After this season, with the way the defense performed, he would have to be a HC candidate around the league, or at least able to get a higher paying, more desirable DC job.

A sport coat would be cool. But these days you need a whole new formation, maybe a "Z-Formation". Especially if you don't have an excellent QB! And don't forget in the Red Zone...

I have a feeling that, if Marrone is fired, Schwartz will get the head coaching job, if only for the sake of some continuity. And if he isn't promoted, he will leave. great. Like I said, my vote is Vince Lombardi.

Dude, they will likely finish 7-9 or 8-8...in these days were some teams go worst to first it's not very impressive. Marrone chose Hackett, Marrone seemed satisfied with the OL acquisitions...it's his team, and the offense is awful, even with a defense that gives them great field position. Marrone is mediocre at best. He is a terrible game manager, and gets his shorts handed to him by upper echelon coaches.... "Thanks, Doug. Great game..see you in a few weeks"- Bill Belichick) I can't even imagine what Belichick could do with this Bills defense swapped into Pats jerseys. A game like the Jets game with 6 turnovers, would have been some historical scoring binge.

The last time I saw the Bills, they each had a fork sticking in them.

Right. A big part of EJM's struggles was that he didn't know how to command the team, and didn't have a veteran QB to show him what he needs to demand from his teammates. Yes, now he has seen it from Orton, but one game after being pushed out of the playoff picture, the team is not going to be in the frame of mind to suddenly start taking orders from EJM. They need to be fully in "playing for next season" mode. If Marrone doesn't make the switch after a couple more weeks, I bet Pegula will request to see EJM.

How do you know this poll represents "the majority of the fans"?. That's just one reason why polls are crap, and especially useless for making coaching decisions for an NFL team.

They once polled people in India about whether they should nuke neighboring Pakistan, and a majority voted yes. I believe EJM should be put in, just not right away. The poll shows the predictable emotional fans, knee-jerk reaction.

Posting my opinion is totally different than trying to insinuate that a poll of fans lends credence to an argument.

Since people are voting for Cowher, and wanting Parcells, and it's all some kind of fantasy, I want...Bill Belichick. And if Bill isn't available. Vince Lombardi.

You mean "fans that vote in these kinds of silly polls want to bench Orton." Who cares? What would you expect right after a loss that kills their playoff chances? Is that supposed to mean it's the right thing to do? The fans don't run the team, and frankly, most are clueless and make decisions based on emotion.

The thing is, a major part of EJM's struggles is that he doesn't have command of the team, and hasn't earned the respect of his teammates yet. Right now the team is still reeling from falling out of the playoff picture and probably aren;t in the right frame of mind to suddenly accept a guy that had just lost the job a bit earlier in the season. They are still bottoming out, it's not the right time. Let the dust settle, and then play EJM for the last 4 games, when the players are in a different frame of mind, and it feels more like they are building for next season.