Mikie2times

Cooler then the otherside of the pillow

As time progresses you find out more about each team, last week I was speaking as if Tech would run the table, and what should happen if they did. I was wrong in the fact that I said VT would run the table, they obviously got exposed tonight. The point I was trying to convey then was more about if VT ran the table, then they should go over Texas, and not that VTECH was any better then Texas. Now Texas seems like a likely candidate to run the table, and a match up with USC seems immanent. I'm not a fan of Tech, USC, or Texas, but the college football fan in me really wants to see Texas against USC. For one it is a very intriguing match up filled with stars, and for two it's for a clear cut National Title game. My opinion is this Texas team will get exposed against USC. I just think the decline of the big 12 this year is more likely a reason for Texas putting up these numbers then them being as amazing as the scores indicate. In the meantime can Texas stay motivated without Tech nipping at their heals? They play Kansas who dominated Brad Smith, and is excellent against the run, and then they play a depressed A&M squad away. Neither of these teams are powers but their good enough to pull an upset if you give them enough chances. If Texas or USC falters I hope the football gods give Penn State a shot at the National Title, Alabama will slip up so I think the Nittany Lions should be next in line. You’ cant go wrong if the national title game this year comes down to Texas, USC, or Penn State. This has been another great year of college football.

We won't compete next year unless both lines improve, and despite how suspect the offensive line has been at times a DT is probably more important to the overall picture. The line run blocks well at times, and pass blocks well at times, and next year when MW and CV get healthy and the talent gets upgraded via FA we should be ok. I agree that other holes in the past have often taken precedents over the offensive line but we need to decide what is the best way to upgrade both sides of the ball. The FA DT market this off-season is nearly nonexistent, and nearly every year the offensive line has some talented FA's available.

Props to Miami for dominating this one, next time I think Tech keep their mouth shut during the week. I’m glad this went down because my ideal NC match up is Texas and USC. Now that Tech has lost that seems like it will happen given the remaining schedules of the two.

I was very skeptical of this team in the beginning of the year, but now I think they can play with ANYONE in the country. That might be a bold statement but consider who they played and dominated this season. Penn State is for real this year, and if not for one play against Michigan would be very much in the National Title hunt.

The kool aid is certainly being passed around in this thread. I can understand how people can credit TD for certain things, as he's done many things well, but why can't people understand why we question him? This team is 28th in the league in winning % since he took over, and it certainly doesn't appear like the future looks much brighter. How is being one of the leagues worst teams since 2003, and needing several holes to be filled this off-season reason to praise old whitey? If anything this subject thread should be the other way around. At best TD has been average, and giving him a grade of anything higher then that is either wishful thinking or being a homer.

Looks like a solid OLB prospect with his size and speed. Lacerated liver? Did they guy almost die? That sounds pretty serious, it will be very interesting to see when he goes with the injury, and rare speed and strength combo.

GM's can be measured in two ways, one is by how many fans they put in the seats, and two is by how successful the team is. Nobody should question TD's ability to come threw on the first one, but then again most fans are only judging TD by the second one because the teams success is pretty much all we care about. As his supporters are quick two point out he has made some down right brilliant moves as Bills GM, you can't debate the genius of drafting McGahee, or the steal of a draft pick we got in order to draft him in the first place. His tenure is riddled with quality selections, but at the same time he's made these great moves he's made just enough poor decisions to counteract them. We measure area number twp in quantitative results, and why not? Everyday people are held to standards at various professions often not having the luxury of somebody allowing them an extension simply because they did something’s right. You either meet the expectations set or you don't, and TD has not met those expectations. If you count 2003 the Bills rank 28th in the league since TD has been here, if you throw that year out we rank 20th. As the season comes to an end that mark will probably be lower at the end of the year then it even is now. TD likes to call our team inconsistent, and not coincidentally their probably is no better word to describe his tenure as Bills GM. For every right decision, a wrong one follows, but if he keeps fulfilling area one so well his supporters should not be worried, as he will be our GM for a long time. After all area number one is probably more important to Ralph then area number two, that might make some cringe but in the end this is just a business.

The most incredible moment I have ever had being a sports fan, one that will certainly stay clear in my mind the rest of my life. Bubba McDowell's return for six at the start of the second half made an impossible situation look even more impossible. From then on a tital wave of amazing events took place in favor of Buffalo, without anyone of them the comeback may have never happened. In no particular order here are the plays that stayed with me over 10 years. 1. Pete Metzelarrs catch after the INT return for a TD. The ball sailed threw both hands of the Houston defender, and into the outstretched hands out Metzelarrs. They pick that off Davis never scores the Bills first TD. 2. Christie recovering the ensuing onside kick 3. The long TD pass to Beebe after the onside kick, this play brought the score much closer and gave us some reason to believe. Replay showed Beebe stepped out of bounds, which should have made him an ineligible receiver. 4. Reeds 4th down TD catch in the 3rd quarter. The Bills had all the momentum in the world at that point and Reeds TD of 4th down was so important to us to keep it going. I think that drive might have been set up by an INT? 5. The Bills forcing Houston to kick a field goal to send it to OT. If I'm Houston at this point why go conservative? They just gave up a 33 point lead, yet they're content to forcer overtime? 6. Nade Odoms INT in OT. When Houston forced overtime, and won the toss my stomach sank. If the emotional roller coaster we went threw that day would have ended in defeat, the euphoria would have turned into the worst feeling imaginable. In the end Nate made the play, and Christie hammered the kick threw, the rest is left for annals of Bills lore.

I think he would be a great blocking TE, but who knows if he has enough hands to threaten a defense. Besides he's a FA this offseason and I doubt he takes enough of a pay cut to become a back up blocking TE for Buffalo.

If that’s the case then I guess it didn't matter if TD liked him or not. I seem to remember him getting an interview with Buffalo before the Giants deal, I could be wrong on that, but if that’s the case I know we never offered Coughlin a deal to compete with NY. Now if Coughlin stated even before any other interviews he wanted to coach the Giants then none of this really matters anyway, however I still think the logic surrounding TD and head coaches is sound. TD's reservation of a potential power struggle has to play some role in who he wants as coach

You being serious?

I see plenty of people suggesting Duke should take over at Teague’s spot. That probably will be what happens but I just wanted to take advantage of Bentley being available with this prediction. We have problems at guard, and Duke has looked very competent at that spot as a rookie. I think Duke would also make a good Center next year, but I would like to see the Bills take a bigger step forward with the interior line then simply shifting in Duke for Teague. A player like Bentley really expands our options, and gives us a very formidable interior. Who knows if he will still be available, but that’s why this is just a prediction.

I'm not calling for MM's head or anything, but considering GW was a first time coach, and big miss by TD, I wonder why TD would take another risk by picking another first year guy, over the experienced Coughlin. We know of the power struggle that went on in Pittsburgh, and I that might of played a roll in us passing on Coughlin. Coighlins seems like a guy that wants to run the show so to speak, and certainly would like a large role in the personnel department. He's turned around the Giants in a year, and handled the same QB situation this team is in much better then TD/MM. This team appears soft, and at times has been coddled. We talk a ton and don’t back it up, we have players leaking information threw the media, and we just don't appear to be a mentally strong football team. Perhaps a coach like Coughlin would have forced a player coo, but if so are these the type of players we want on this team? A disciplinarian like Coughlin just seems like he could bring a much needed dimension to the Bills, and had a great resume, with an offensive mind. I think these types of coaches really turn TD off after what happened in Pittsburgh, and that probably has a lot to do with him rolling the dice with MM.

I think people are blowing Peters wonderlic out of proportion. Sure he's dumb as rocks, but if he's physically able to play LT we should move on it. Besides did the wonderlic ask any questions like who to pick up on a stunt, or a blitz? Some people possess certain types of smarts, obviously the book smarts went bye bye to Peters awhile ago, but that is no guarantee that he can't process information on the field.

I don't know if Williams can play LT, but if history is any indication I don't think he will ever be a LT at this level. He's big and agile, but he deals with mostly power rushes on the right side. As a LT he would need to deal with much quicker edge rushers, and that just doesn't seem to be his strength. He was drafted to play LT, paid like a LT, and yet after all this time he still is yet to play the position. Sure Jennings was solid when healthy, and that could partly explain why he is still a RT, but after JJ left the move was never made to switch big Mike over. With all the things that have played out with MW selection, pay, and the surrounding offensive line, I think it would be safe to say a switch would have been made already if the Bills brass ever felt he could do it.

It makes sense, Bruschi gets 2 tackles, 5 assist, 0 Sacks, 0 INT's and is named AFC player of the week. The NFC representative is Charles Tillman, he made 6 Tackles, 1 assist, 0 sacks,and had an INT returned for a touchdown in overtime. If awards are given for sentimental reasons why not give Willis the comeback player of the year award last year? I thought the actual NFL was better then ESPN, apparently not.

You have to be kidding, he wasn't even in the top 3 defensive performances in the game, let alone the league. I know it's not his fault the NFL and media are giving him a ball washing every 5 seconds but this crap is really making hate Bruschi.

It's a future projection so of course it's premature; I just feel that he will eventually develop into a player that can start at LT or RT. It's easy to downgrade his performance based on New England’s situation but at the same time this is a player that has never played a NFL, College, or high school game at either Tackle, yet he held his own. He makes pennies, and is certainly athletic enough to play LT. I wouldn't call him a book end type at this point, but his future looks bright, and the cap implications for the Bills if he starts would be very beneficial to the rest of the team.

I agree with everything besides looking at Gabe Watson. Sure he's a massive, and strong, but he plays soft and has very poor work ethic. All my die hard Michigan friends say he could be one of the best, but his motivation has never been in it. This is on par with what I've seen from watching all the Michigan games so I think it's an accurate assessment. Also consider that we probably will be in the top 15. If these things about Watson are true he probably projects between 20-30, while Ngata will likely be a top 15 pick. I'm really high on this guy, and IMO is the only DT we can expect to make an immediate impact for our run support and interior pass rush. Ngata and Sam Adams would combine at nearly 700 pounds, and both have uncanny agility for their size. This move could really make our interior defense formidable once again.

Clumping Platelets can correct me on this one, but I'm pretty sure the cap hit if we cut Williams is very high, so high that it makes him nearly uncutable. He is the resident salary cap expert and I seem to recall him saying this in several posts. No doubt it's a mistake paying a RT that much money, but when healthy Williams is still the best RT we have by a long shot. Considering these factors I just don't see TD cutting his number 4 pick anytime soon.

I like the thought of going DT, but not Gabe Watson. Watson is not known for his work ethic, and despite his massive size and strength is known for playing a little soft at times (Sam Adams). We need a power DT that can eat up blockers and allow Sam to free lance, Check out this post I just did on Oregon DT Haloti Ngata.

I think Kiwanuka will develop into a very talented pass rusher, but the FA DT's are paper thin this year, and run stopping should be in #1 priority for the defense this off-season.

The draft is stock full of LT's but the FA market is paper thin at DT. Both lines could really use the first pick, but in terms of FA's I just see us being able to do more with the offensive line then defensive line. If Chris Villerial is out of the picture you could alter the line to look like this LT: Peters LG: Gandy C: Bentley RG: Duke RT Big Mike That would keep the Duke playing the RG position which he has played this year, and Gandy could move to the LG position, which many prognosticators feel is his natural position anyway. After watching a very green Jason Peters on Sunday my feelings are we must be able to get this talented and cost effective of a player into the lineup. He seems to have the LT footwork, and agility, and his price really offsets the ungodly amount Mike Williams is making. I agree that he still has a long way to go, but due to his cost effectiveness, and potential, I would atleast like to see him get some time at LT this season. Another positive of this setup is the line being comprised of younger players. If these 5 guys ended up being a talented group we would have the benefit of them being able to play together for awhile.

I don't know who wrote this song but I would also like to nominate the theme from Requiem for a Dream. Obviously much more popular candidates exist but I think the song fits perfectly for the mood the movie portrays.