yungmack

Let's not forget a great FA signing: Pat Williams.

Here's the latest rankings on where various Bills stand overall in the league. Turns out that Schobel, Kyle Williams, Stroud and now Posluszny are very highly rated. What do you make of these rankings? Poz’s playmaking right up there By Chris Brown - Posted May 12, 2010 – 10:29 am On Monday we showed how AdvancedNFLStats determined playmaking ability through new statistical models that measure WPA or positive win probability added and EPA or positive expected points added. Aaron Schobel and Kyle Williams were both among the best at their respective positions for the 2009 regular season. Buffalo’s middle and soon to be inside linebacker fared well at his position too. “+WPA” and “+EPA” add up the value of every sack, interception, pass defense, forced fumble or recovery, and every tackle or assist that results in a setback for the offense. What these stats measure ultimately is playmaking ability. Paul Posluszny (2.00) had the second highest WPA among linebackers for the 2009 regular season with only Lamarr Woodley (2.10)faring better than him. In positive expected points added per game, Poz ranked third overall among linebackers finishing behind only Carolina’s Thomas Davis and Houston’s Brian Cushing. Here’s the top 15 list of linebackers for this playmaking statistic. Not a bad showing by Pittsburgh linebackers with all four of their starters in the top 15 (Woodley, Harrison, Timmons and Farrior). It’s encouraging knowing Buffalo is moving to that scheme as well. 56-L.Woodley PIT 51-P.Posluszny BUF 51-J.Vilma NO 52-D.Harris NYJ 52-P.Willis SF 92-J.Harrison PIT 52-J.Beason CAR 52-R.Lewis BLT 59-L.Fletcher WAS 55-C.Session IND 58-G.Brackett IND 54-Ge.Hayes TB 94-L.Timmons PIT 93-A.Spencer DAL 51-J.Farrior PIT Here's the link if you want it: http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2010/05/12/p...right-up-there/

Marv Levy.

This is what it says: “+WPA” and “+EPA” add up the value of every sack, interception, pass defense, forced fumble or recovery, and every tackle or assist that results in a setback for the offense. What these stats measure ultimately is playmaking ability. So, yeah, the more plays, the higher probability for more success. However, being on the field more than the Jets as in your example also means the possibility for more screw-ups, which it seems didn't happen in the cases of Williams and Stroud. I think Nixley probably analyzed the play in a fashion similar to this study, which might have led them to change to the 3-4, with bigger LBs. Whatever the reason, the D looks to be more smash mouth than speedy, little guys going into this season.

This is from Chris Brown at BB.com today. DT Williams tops as playmaker By Chris Brown - Posted May 11, 2010 – 8:00 am Looks like Aaron Schobel isn’t the only Bills player with league best playmaking ability at his position. On Monday we showed how AdvancedNFLStats determined playmaking ability through new statistical models that measure WPA or positive win probability added and EPA or positive expected points added. “+WPA” and “+EPA” add up the value of every sack, interception, pass defense, forced fumble or recovery, and every tackle or assist that results in a setback for the offense. What these stats measure ultimately is playmaking ability. For 2009 Aaron Schobel ranked number one among defensive ends in this statistical model. Kyle Williams was also the top ranked performer at his position, defensive tackle. Williams not only had the highest WPA, but he highest EPA as well. His WPA of 1.99 was far and away the top mark as was his EPA of 54.1. Atlanta’s Jordan Babineaux was second in both categories (1.67 and 46). Williams was also number one in tackle factor (1.33), which goes far beyond measuring just the number of tackles accumulated by a player. Philadelphia’s Mike Patterson was second (1.27). Here’s the top 15 list of DT playmaking ability and it should be noted that Bills DT Marcus Stroud ranked 10th, despite a season in which he played through three different nagging injuries. 95-K.Williams BUF 95-J.Babineaux ATL 90-D.Dockett ARZ 94-J.Smith SF 93-K.Williams MIN 90-J.Ratliff DAL 92-A.Haynesworth WAS 96-T.Knighton JAX 95-A.Adams CHI 99-M.Stroud BUF 75-V.Wilfork NE 92-R.Ayodele NO 94-P.Williams MIN 90-D.Muir IND 68-E.Foster IND

Steve Young was NOT "declared a loser." He came out of the USFL when it folded, along with Jim Kelly. Both guys went to the NFL teams that drafted them. Neither was particularly happy about it. Especially Young, who hated Tampa Bay and forced a trade. (For you young'uns who think the Bills stink, you need to go back and check out the Bucs. Now that's stinking it up)

Bucky Brooks has a solid take on the Bills QB situation, one I'd call very fair. Here's the link to the article, which includes videos: http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d8...mp;confirm=true From the article: While those options likely won't appease a rabid Bills' fan base looking to crack the postseason for the first time in more than a decade, Gailey's track record with developing quarterbacks should inspire confidence among the team's supporters. He has transformed unlikely players such as Jay Fiedler, Kordell Stewart, Mike Tomczak and Tyler Thigpen into solid players, and it is quite possible that a darkhorse candidate such as Brian Brohm or Levi Brown could emerge as the team's franchise quarterback.

You could throw in a few more, like Shanahan, fired in Oakland; Belichick, fired in Cleveland; Dungy, fired in Tampa; Schottenheimer, fired in KC and SD (and how many of you argued to sign him!); Pete Carroll, fired from the Jets and Pats; Mancini, fired from the Jets; Wade Phillips, fired in Denver and Buffalo....and so on.

Say, Ken, do you know if Buckets Hirsch is still alive?

+1

Are you serious? Or am I missing the sarcasm? Last I looked, Wang hasn't even signed a contract with the Bills and you already have him listed as not only a starter but "a below average" one at that. And I suppose you're one of the naifs around here that think that Gaither's the answer...that the Ravens are so dumb that they're trying to get rid of him because they can't see his massive talent as only people on this board can.

Ah, the mantra around here! But you left this out: "Even the garbage another team is trying to get rid of is better than any Bills player. Trade next year's picks NOW. Git'er done, Buddy." Some of these guys sound like they could replace Jamie Dukes on NFLN.

That'd be 13 teams, none of whom will be "rubbing their foreparts together" as the Bills were not a huge push over last year, and should be a great deal improved this year. Yep, even with the same QBs.

You don't have to accept that humans have any effect on the climate to accept the evidence that the earth is definitely warming (though it beggars the imagination that over six BILLION people don't have some at least itsy bitsy impact on the globe); You don't have to accept that the profligate burning of fossil fuels has any "real" effect on climate to accept that climate is changing (though if your fireplace flue has ever backed up on you, you might remember that it wasn't pleasant at all for those who breathe); You don't have to accept the concurring words of thousands of scientists who specialize in climate/environment/weather/astronomy that we're in deep doo-doo just as I don't have to accept the nay-saying by a handful of climate-change deniers that things are just fine (nearly all of whom are with rightwing think tanks, or on the payroll of fossil fuel companies, or aren't really scientists in these fields); And, finally, even if the climate was perfectly wonderful and the whole fossil fuel thingee was a giant scam, and you are a John Galt of anti-tree hugging integrity, it still makes profoundly great sense to get off the addiction to oil, most of which comes from highly unstable and hostile-to-you areas of the world, which compels the US to spend trillions on the military to keep it flowing. In other words, becoming energy independent is a security issue of the most profound sort, so even if you get your core information from Rush Beckannity, and even if they're correct (though of course they're idiots), even right wing imbeciles should support "the greening of America." If you'd like to read a real report (it's brief) from a very important sector of the scientific community, here's a link: http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2010/...urce=newsletter Can't wait to hear the Rushies take on this. Oh, and Go Bills! 2010 AFCE Champs.

What are you guys drinking? Smoking? If LTs are at a premium and the Ravens want to trade their supposed great LT, does that not raise a red flag? Or twenty? Who gets rid of a top-flight, young left tackle if all is well. The guy is Jason Peters, Jr., a malcontent who is never going to be happy with his situation or his contract. Plus, by all reports, his motivation is questionable, his attitude is poor, and his work habits are lousy.

Are any of these guys participating this weekend?

Even more interesting, he was passed over by every team in the league once. I guess all the GMs in the NFL are dummies.

Excellent!

And preferably in decline, with a high price tag. That'll show those NFLN types!

In all the back and forth on what the Bills lack on the lines, needs that might have been taken care of in the draft/FA signings, etc., it's easy to overlook who the Bills do have under contract. Most of them haven't had much playing time and frankly I don't know enough about their pluses and minuses to have an informed opinion so I thought I'd ask those of you who really do know what you're talking about to weigh in. I'm sure the usual segment of "The Bills suck, RW's cheap, Nix is senile" types will be unable to restrain "contributing," but it would be nice if those of you who are truly knowledgeable -- and a surprising number of people on here are -- would add your thoughts on these guys: Kirk Chambers Rashaad Duncan Chris Ellis Marlon Favorite Christian Gaddis Lonnie Harvey Andre Ramsey Jason Watkins Which of these guys is on the roster in September? Do any of them look to be big contributors? Do any of them become starters?

That seems to be the widely accepted origin for "fan." However, there is an alternative theory that might be closer to the truth (because it was in common use long before "fanatic"): that "fan" is a shortened version of "Fancier."

Thanks for the great post.

There are custom insurance/annuity policies that are written for situations such as taxes upon death, and companies that specialize in them. It's possible Wilson has one in place. If he doesn't, then maybe he is a knucklehead.

The Post of the Day!

Once, and only once, I bought a burger at Burger King. It was so nauseating I threw it away and never again ate at BK. However, in the 30 years since then, I haven't obsessed on BK and I don't post "I hate Burger King" screeds on the Web. I don't know who runs the company, could care less what its latest gimmick is, and just generally never think about it unless someone suggests we stop there for something to eat. So...for those of you who find the whole Bills experience and history to be one of inferior product, who find the owner a nauseating cheapskate who could screw up a glass of water, who think the new GM and coaching staff are ancient incompetents, who apparently think the latest draft sucks, and who predict yet another lousy season...why are you still hanging around here? Toss the "burger" in the trash, walk away, forget about the Bills and get on with your lives.