Nihilarian

Gotta love what Lynn can do with these players, and Shady being a beast again today

That Mills or Miller that just whiffed?

It's not media fodder as Whaley had his chance in 2014 to sign Richie Incognito who was sitting out the entire year and the Bills had the very worst offensive line in the league and were in desperate need of a top OG. Rex Ryan came in and said sign him and I'll vouch for him! http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/bills/2015/02/07/richie-incognito-rex-ryan-contract-jonathan-martin-miami-dolphins/23040525/ Here is an article that states that Rex Ryan hand picked Tyrod Taylor and wanted to sign the kid when he was with the Jets. http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/rex-ryan-hand-picked-qb-tyrod-taylor-wanted-him-with-jets/ Rex Ryan dining with La'el Collins to attempt to secure him for Buffalo http://buffalonews.com/2015/05/04/reports-bills-coach-rex-ryan-dining-with-lael-collins-in-louisiana/ This year I think we all see what kind of impact a player that Rex has targeted can accomplish in Lorenzo Alexander and who knows if the defensive players he wanted last year would have had significant impact or not. http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/sports/football/nfl/bills/2016/09/08/surprising-alexander-earned-chance-start-bills/89995716/ While so many fans raving about how good the Bills scouts and Whaley, Monos are I just wanted to point out that it wasn't all them either. I slammed Rex Ryan so much, so often last year for his 2015 defense and yet still praised him for the players he wanted to help build his style of team. This year I have nothing but praise for Rex stepping back and allowing Dennis Thurman to call the defensive plays along with the insight to fire his OC and promote someone better.

yep! I think Mike Pettine was consumed with pass rushing, so he over did it vs stopping the run and Rex did the opposite last year. Although last year's defense had way more problems than just the lack of sacks. It's great to see the defense playing so much better this season! However, I'm still not fully sold that the current scheme will do that well against Brady and the elites. Needless to say, there was speculation today on PFT that Brady wants to play until 2025

So far, it looks like Rex had a big hand in signing All-pro LG Richie Incognito- QB Tyrod Taylor. Rex was also chasing OG / OT La'el Collins and he dined with him last offseason to lure him to Buffalo. Instead, the Cowboys signed him and started him at LG. So, all he did was pancake people to help the Cowboys as the #1 O-line in the league last year. I just can't even imagine how good the Bills line could be with both Incognito and Collins at OG. Rex also wanted to bring in some defensive players last year and for some reason that didn't happen. I do believe he also had a hand in signing Percy Harvin who didn't pan out due to injury. If this team makes the playoffs this year it will be because Rex had a big hand in finding players to help the team get there.

I agree that each and every year is different because the roster never stays the same. But is the roster talent above average because of great drafting and decently priced free agents? O-line- the best player by far is a free agent that no other team wanted in Incognito. That the HC vouched for him and his all-pro play elevated the players next to him. The next best are second round LT, first round pick at C and a third-rounder at RG who has started to play above where he was drafted. The last player at RT is still somewhat questionable as is the depth. The coaching recently has also elevated the line play that used to have so many bums over the years. WR corps-Sammy Watkins best WR by far cost three draft picks and two of those first rounders...and has been injury prone his entire career. Second round pick Robert Woods hasn't come close to what the Green Bay Packers find in the second round all the time. The team is still lacking a big, tough over the middle WR and that big, tall red zone target WR. QB- the HC found this young man who is very limited with his passing ability and really only works well in a run first offense and when the run game is working. The backup QB a first-rounder who has yet to show he was worth that first-round pick. A 4th round QB who is as raw as they come and may develop into something down the road. TE- an over-priced free agent that has a difficult time staying healthy. This team could still use a top blocking player who is also an asset as a pass catcher... or three. Gragg started to look like a valued player until he ended up on IR. RB- probably the best player on offense by far makes the entire offense work when he brings his A game. The Eagles initiated this trade and if not for some great luck from a very stupid RB who chose to play elsewhere the Bills would have been on the hook for an over-priced slug! Still, the Bills needed to overpay for talent that they couldn't find in the draft. From what I see this team wasn't built on offense primarily because of great scouting, great drafting, and reasonably priced free agent players. The mere fact that CJ Spiller chose to go to NO and the team offered him a decent amount to stay shows me that some people in the Bills FO really just get very, very lucky at times. Without LeSean McCoy, who is doing his Barry Sanders impression, this offense is a big dud. For sure the Bills FO, scouts can properly evaluate defensive players far better than offensive players. Still, that ignoramus of a Colts GM initiated the trade for his first round stud linebacker away for a Buffalo Bills third round scrub. If I'm the owner of the Colts I'd have long since fired him for that moronic move. The Bills didn't find Jerry Hughes in the draft, nor did they find Mario who it took a 100 million dollars to get him into Buffalo. I still have a problem with the Buffalo Bills doctors and talent evaluators who keep drafting and finding players who have difficulty in staying healthy. Bottom line: does this team have some great talent? Yes! On paper and yet to be realized fully on the field in getting to the playoffs. A hodgepodge of top talent at various positions with little or no depth at some. Not exactly the best way to build a playoff team IMHO.

Dolphins already souring on Mario Williams? http://sports.yahoo.com/m/43b3ed00-fcd7-32a3-b387-d50af1a81fb5/ss_dolphins-already-souring-on.html Here ya go haters, relish it...or put relish on it! Why on earth would the coaches say they were happy with his play if they weren't? The Dolphins coaches are complaining about Mario right now and went public with it. So, why would the Bills attempt to cover up or hide the fact he wasn't doing his job?

First off, Marcell Dareus was complaining about how he was being asked to play in Ryan's scheme from the start of training camp. Second, weeks later Mario was more complaining about dropping into pass coverage so often and at week six it was noted that Dareus was asked to drop into pass coverage six times and Mario fourteen times. If you read an article in the Buffalo News late last year the Bills coaches stated that they were happy with Mario's play in how he was being used. They were never going to bench him or had never even given that possibility a thought. From a Tyler Dunne article Dec 13, 2015, http://buffalonews.com/2015/12/31/marios-swan-song-with-bills-is-near/ Ryan. Defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman. Defensive line coach Karl Dunbar. Coaches have supported Williams all season long – possibly to a fault. Their message has never wavered. Dunbar, all smiles, praised the veteran on Thursday. Asked how one of this generation’s best pass rushers can last 54 snaps without one tackle, one hit, one sack, Dunbar reiterated they’re pleased with Williams’ play. “He’s doing a good job of coming off the edge and the quarterback’s getting rid of the ball,” Dunbar said. “It’s kind of hard because the defense we play is predicated on what they give us and who’s going to be the hot guy. Yeah, you wish you had more tackles, you wish you had more sacks. But I think he’s helping our defense based upon the things he’s doing.” Dunbar cited linebacker Manny Lawson’s hit on Dallas’ Kellen Moore – the team’s only registered QB hit in the game – as one such play. Williams covered tight end James Hanna out of the backfield, eliminating the hot read and Moore was walloped. The coach asserts Williams “has been around the quarterback” and didn’t hesitate on if Williams has been giving his all. “Yeah, I think so,” Dunbar said. “He’s out there doing the things we’ve asked him to do. … It’s a little bit different than what he’s done in the past, but I think it’s working for us.” And Dunbar does view Williams as a fit in Buffalo’s defense, even when the player himself puts the scheme on trial.

It's not Rex! He called the defensive plays last year and Dennis Thurman calls the defensive plays this year. As head coach, Ryan certainly gets credit for what the defense is doing and it's his scheme just being used differently than last year. We no longer see the plays coming in late, or late player substitutions, or players not set when the ball is snapped which is all onThurman. We also no longer see confusion or turmoil as to what's happening on the field so this leads me to believe this year's additions in Ed Reed and the bigger bro to the coaching staff also are helping a great deal. As for the sack total increase this year. The basic 3-4 defense has two different distinct sets and one has the D-line players primarily rushing the passer. The other set has the D-line players focusing on controlling the gaps and then when the ball is snapped they read, react to whichever way the play is going. This second set is used mostly to stop the run on first and second down. Common logic dictates which set was used more often last year and which has been used more often this year. It's not really that difficult to figure out. Then consider that Dareus was complaining about how he was being asked to play from the start of training camp last year to understand he simply wanted to rush the passer more often over controlling gaps and he even stated he wanted to just rush. For a better understanding, http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2014/6/25/5841992/playing-the-run-on-defense-1-gap-vs-2-gap-schemes So far, with the exception of the Jets game. This is the defense we were all expecting last year when Ryan stated he had never had this much talent on a defense and he expected to field the #1 defense. That Jets game in week two really skewed the stats and if not for that single game that allowed 493 yards of offense the Bills defense would look so much better stat wise right now.

From what I surmise is that they grade individuals rather than how the entire unit is playing and thus they grade each player and then add the totals. Richie Incognito graded so highly last season he really made up for the right side of that Bills line as they graded at #10 overall and we all saw how bad that right side was at times. It is rather dubious that the three worst graded lines this year are the Rams, Seahawks, and Vikings. Yet all three teams have a winning record. However, we do see the Seahawks is the worst just by watching the games and should Wilson miss a game we would really see just how bad that line really is playing. Minnesota is last in the NFL in rushing and the Rams are 28th. Plus the Rams are last in the league in three and out percentage.

Actually, the Bills are currently ranked 5th in points allowed and 15th in yards allowed. #4 in sacks and have the #1 sacker in the league. 6th in INT's, 8th in tackles

That nickname is a perfect fit! I'm a Bills fan but I don't allow it to blind me to what's happening on the field.

Sure they did as the 2015 Bills defense got a whopping 21 sacks in 16 games Rex didn't ruin one player as he ruined an entire defensive line of all pro players in 2015. Dunno why some fans simply can't be happy that this year's defense is doing so well without Mario and the Phins with Mario are falling on their face. I'm crazy happy the Bills are currently #4 in sacks this year! Let...it...go!

The only Todd Bowles fan boys I know of are wearing Green on Sundays. We all knew is was only a matter of time before Gailey and Fitzpasspick showed themselves. What is kinda strange is how bad that defense is this year. but then I suppose when the QB turns the ball over 6x in a game than things will get ugly fast.

That's still pretty good out of 64 players. I don't think you could honestly expect much more from a 3rd round player. I think the Bills line has been playing better than PFF is currently stating. I suppose they are also looking at the first two games in which the Bills run game was nonexistent. The current ranking should improve if they continue to play as well as they have in the last three games. "20. Buffalo Bills (10)Starters: LT Cordy Glenn, LG Richie Incognito, C Eric Wood, RG John Miller, RT Jordan Mills The Bills’ line has been impressively average across the board. RT Jordan Mills probably strays the furthest from average when it comes to his run blocking, but he has actually been relatively solid as a pass blocker to balance that, allowing only six total pressures and no sacks or hits yet this year. Strangely, only LG Richie Incognito has actually surrendered a sack amongst the starters, and he has coughed up three on his own." https://www.profootballfocus.com/pro-ranking-all-32-nfl-offensive-lines-entering-week-5-2/

Rex isn't calling the defensive plays this year as Dennis Thurman is! Rex managed to make not one, but three all pro's look bad last year! I dunno about the rest of the Bills fans out there, but I'm happy the Dolphins defense stinks and one player no matter how good isn't going to make a bad coach or bad scheme look great. Be happy he is gone and the Bills defense is doing well without him. The Dolphins entire team stinks! Their offense 28th in PF, 29th in YDS. Their defense 18th in Points allowed, 28th in yards allowed. From the looks of things, the Bills should sweep the smelly fish again this year and beat the Jets in the season finale again.

Same! I picked the Bills to win this game so....

Exactly right! Plus, he is a perfect fit for Ryan's defense in that he helps keep the run game going and doesn't turn the ball over. The reason Rex Ryan fired Greg Roman was because the run game wasn't working and it was killing his defense. Yes, this style of winning games is sometimes unsustainable as one-dimensional teams don't go far over the course of the season or usually do well in the playoffs if they make it that far. However, the 2009-2010 NY Jets made it to the AFC Championship game with this formula and the 2008 Baltimore Ravens made it to the AFC Championship game in 2008 while developing rookie QB Joe Flacco along the way. That year the Ravens had 433 yards passing vs 592 yards rushing! The very next year the Ravens managed to beat the Patriots in New England in the 2009 playoffs with Joe Flacco throwing for 4 of 10 for 34 yards and one INT, All game! The Ravens beat the Patriots with 52 rushes for 242 yards and 4 TDs. The Ravens defense also intercepted Brady 3x and sacked him 3x. It can be done! And like the Ravens developed Joe Flacco with this same system! So, how about we wait to see what Tyrod looks like at the end of the season.

That may well be true. All I know is if we saw this playcalling last year I know I wouldn't have complained as much or as often. The sacks alone tells me the current playcalling is like night and day in that Lorenzo Alexander (**who?)is the leading sack leader with 7.0. Last year Jerry Hughes who played in 16 games finished the entire season with only 5.0 sacks all year and we know what a monster the guy is, as he currently leads the NFL in QB pressures with 9 and he already has 4 sacks!! Marcell Dareus who played in 15 games last year only had 2.0 sacks. Think of this! After only 5 games this year the Bills already have 17 sacks and only had 21 for the entire 2015 season. At this rate, the Bills should finish in the top 5 in sacks, QB pressures or better and so far it certainly has switched me from bitching to cheering! Night and Day! **The guy has played in the NFL 6 years for Washington (92 games, 13 starts), 2 years for Arizona (19 games, 3 starts), one year for Oakland (16 games, 0 starts) and in all those years had a total of 9 sacks!

Exactly! Sammy Watkins went on IR and threads popped up everywhere wanting Whaley fired. I can recall the 2008 season when the Patriots lost Brady for the year in their first game of the season. Then the Bills start the season 5-1 with talk of playoffs and how Trent Edwards looked like another Joe Montana in beating the Seahawks, the Jags, the Raiders, the Rams. Had a concussion in Arizona which I suspect was far more serious than anyone thought as it ended Edwards career. Still, after that Arizona game the Bills won against the Chargers to get to 5-1. Ralph Wilson was so happy he gave Dick Jauron an extension with the thought he might lose him. We were all thinking the Bills take the division and are on their way!!!! Yeah, on their way alright...right into the crapper as the team went 3-8 the rest of the season and ended the season 7-9. Somebody wrote a post about how the way the Bills were winning was unsustainable and he was right! Jauron was fired halfway through the next season. In 2011 the Bills started out 5-2 and the talk of playoffs started up again all the way up until Fitz got hammered in Washington and ended up playing the rest of the year with broken ribs. The next game the center goes down for the year and the backups couldn't snap the ball properly to save their lives. The Bills went on a 7 game losing streak to finish 6-10. In 2014 all the team needed to do to make the playoffs was to beat the 2-12 Oakland Raiders who had the worst defense in the league and suddenly the Bills can't figure out how to run the ball at all. 13 rushes for 13 yards all game. Spiller had 4 rushes for -4 yards meaning he kept getting hit behind the line of scrimmage. The #4 overall defense gets unbelievably unlucky to allow a first down on 4th and 22 to a rookie QB after shutting down Aaron Rodgers and Peyton Manning in recent weeks. Only Buffalo could lose to a 2-12 scrub team! When this team actually makes the playoffs I'll believe it and then perhaps Whaley might deserve Exec of the year!

Not at all. It's for 100% certain it's his defense but he is no longer calling the plays. I equate that change to around the same thing that happened in firing Greg Roman on the offensive side. He fired himself and he should have done that at some point last year too. I think the difference is that being the head coach and the defensive coordinator while taking on the duties of running the entire team and the entire defense was simply too much to handle. As it would for any head coach to also task himself with an entire side of a team to run while being the head coach. Dennis Thurman is doing a brilliant job so far and all Bills fans should be happy about the improvement! The Bills are #4 in QB pressures and #4 in sacks!!! Jerry Hughes is #5 in the NFL with 9 defensive hurries. Buffalo is currently 5th in the NFL in total defense. Cheers to Rex for being smart enough to delegate the DC job to Thurman.

Mike McCoy had the Chargers in the playoffs in his first year as HC after Norv Turner destroyed a Marty Schottenheimer built playoff team. Anyway, what to me is incredible is the way Phillip Rivers can win some games all by himself with a bad defense and a non-existent run game. (last year) Last years stats, 667 passing attempts vs 393 rushing attempts. Yikes! This season it's not as bad with 173 passing vs 124 rushing and the offense under SD OC Ken Whisenhunt is #2 in points and #8 in yards. Meanwhile, another Pagano like the Colts HC that should be fired is John Pagano the Chargers DC! That Charger defense is ranked 28 in points allowed and 23 in yards allowed. Another thing is half the team is on IR already and one-third of the remaining players look to be questionable. Right now Mike McCoy is 23-30 and won't have a job much longer if he doesn't fix that defense. He should start by firing Pagano. JMO

Yep! Things made of glass tend to break easily... Seriously, though, the guy should be running fly patterns every other play to keep the defense from crowding the line and all it would take is one deep ball being caught to put the fear of god in opposing secondaries. Taylor has an excellent deep ball and I can only think he needs to throw a few each game to get in sync. At 5'9'' 179 Goodwin is not the player I would want to see running around in heavy traffic most plays. Kinda surprising this run first team doesn't have that bruising, over the middle tough guy to move the chains all game long. Even Woods is kinda slight at 6'0'' 190 compared to a receiver like Panthers WR Kelvin Benjamin at 6'5'' 255.

This is exactly right! Teams don't get to the SB 4x times in a row with just a handful of star players. It's a team game and a QB is only as good as his supporting cast. The Bills the last few years also proved a few star players on the defense isn't going to get it done either. What screwed the Bills after 1992 was Buffalo OC Ted Marchibroda leaving to become the Colts HC again and the game plan for the Redskins (I think) went with him. It was well known that Marchibroda was being courted by the Colts before that SB and they hired him right after. SB 26 on Jan 26th- Colts hire Marchibroda Jan 28th

To be honest I'm greatly surprised in how well the entire unit has been playing since Lynn was named OC. Holy crap, a 7.1 yard per carry average against the Rams and McCoy was unstoppable with an 8.3 YPC AVG