Brandon

Its good to know you're such a Leinart fan. I hear there is still some room on the Cardinals' bandwagon, so feel free to join them.

The only real good news I can find in any of this is that the Bills management and coaching staff are openly admitting that this OL sucks. Granted, they figured that out about 6 months too late and after basically ignoring the fans calling for major OL help the past offseason, but its a start. Maybe they'll use a 4th and a 6th this year instead of a 5th and 7th? Otherwise, starting a 7th round rookie RT looks like a recipe for disaster. That's not to say that Pennington might not suprise us and play reasonably well later in the year, but I think we all know he's probably going to have some major struggles for a while.

If the OL was playing well, why mess with it? The truth is, they weren't playing well and the coaching staff was forced to make a change. It certainly wasn't a move to get younger players involved (Gandy is only 27, Reyes 28).

http://www.buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=4304 Jauron's statements in this article make it VERY clear that there will be no QB change during the bye, and its a strong enough statement that I don't think it'll happen at any point this year.

Actually, he played quite a bit. Probably a third of the defensive snaps.

Why single out one player to bench when you acknowledge he's not the only problem? Sounds like you want a scapegoat to me.

How much longer? Some have been doing it since the minute he was drafted.

I disagree. The Bills have very rarely attempted to sign quality FA OL or draft them using 2nd-4th round draft picks. They did sign Chris Villarial, who has been a fairly solid starter when healthy (which hasn't been that often). Otherwise, they've signed castoffs at cut-rate prices and the results have been predictably bad. On draft day, the Bills have drafted a grand total of three (Louichey, Hicks, Jennings) 2nd or 3rd round OL since Glenn Parker was selected in 1990! It appears they've selected all of two 4th round OL. That's hardly making an effort and far from enough evidence to say his idea hasn't worked.

I'd select Calvin Johnson without much hesitation. The problem with the OL isn't so much that the Bills haven't invested first round picks up front trying to find a Pro Bowl LT. Instead, its that they haven't bothered investing a few 2nd-4th round picks over the years in order to bring some good, but maybe not great talent at the other OL positions. I still believe the interior of the OL is our real weakness offensively and it all stems from the fact that they struggle to run block. Yes, I said run block. That's why McGahee struggles to average 4 yards per carry. Its tough to run when your guards and center are being knocked three yards into the backfield every other play. Losman, in turn, struggles because without a reliable running game, he's constantly facing 2nd/3rd and long situations. That forces more 5 and 7 step drops and longer developing plays, which again, puts the weak OL right back at center stage. So yeah, adding a LT would help a little, but until the Bills decide to bring in some quality players between the OT positions, its probably still going to be a mediocre OL.

Maybe its because he's better than he's given credit for and the Bills still hold out some hope of re-signing him?

That's your right. You can weigh their opinion however you choose.

Absolutely, except none of us get paid to do it as a profession.

And I'm sure these two guys are highly qualified to comment upon the development of an NFL QB.

Don't forget that relentless pass rush being generated by the DEs.

Instead of finding a new coach, why don't we try bringing in some fugging talent on the OL for once???

That's what usually happens with a QB who has less than a season's worth of starts in his career.

I can't lay the blame all on Donahoe. Marv chose to go the same route this offseason as well. And lets not forget that the collapse of the OL originally began on Butler's watch.

Nice block by Mike Gandy on that one. I rest my case.

In other words, the same thing is happening today as has happened in most of our games the last 3-4 years? This team will suck until they bring in some actual talent on both lines instead of relying on overachievers.

I think it was Fletcher, but it may have been Crowell.

They've been allowing 160 yards per game rushing through the first four games.

Its fitting that Evans is the guy that caught it. He's the only player that showed up for the Bills today.

TD Lee Evans. First TD pass allowed by the Bears since early last year.

I thought they should have switched back to the previous uniforms this past offseason. They should have gotten rid of as many connections to the losing Donahoe Bills as possible.

Last week, Matt Hasselbeck went 16 of 35 for 196 yards and 2 INTs against Chicago and Seattle lost 37-6.