Simon

We might be 4 for 4 in short distance conversions. It might be a function of it being the Colts, but its great to see that out of a Bills team

You're a Bills fan, you damned well should be. But that's OK, cuz I've always beleived that butterflies make you better.

Love Tyrod Taylor's demeanor and his understanding and command of the offense.There will certainly be some rough edges but it's a huge positive in a guy's first real game at any age. Ive become a Rex fan too, but the way he calls this defense is going to kill me by Halloween. When you've got those kind of Jimmie's and Joe's you don't need to run gritzblitzes in every down and distance you can find any remote rationalization for it. <glances at scoreboard> <shuts the hell up> The Colts are utterly terrified of Sammy Watkins. They are not afraid of Mario Williams though; I think he's hurt and they know it. Extra credit to Watkins for playing good hard football even when hes not getting any looks Props to Kyle Williams for carrying the mail early. Do Darby and Percy Harvn have longer speed than I thought? They both looked like guys who were quicker in short areas but they've both flashed a little track speed today Johnny Manziel is messing with the Jets business I've never seen anybody stone Frank Gore like Preston Brown did in the 2nd quarter. That was my first "off the couch with a big Whooooo" this year. We are going to make some big plays on Specials this year. Nobody should be shocked if the first one comes in the next hour This offseason there was some folks unhappy with the Clay signing because they hadn't seen him enough and didn't understand yet what he brought to an offense. Are some of you staring to see the matchup problems he creates against a variety of defenders? I know its early but I havent seen the Bills this well-coached in all three phases of the game in a very very long time. It's going to be an odd sensation to look ahead to matchups and make the assumption that you have an edge on the sidelines. That being said, I did not like the way they called the last two minutes of the half. Don't get cocky boys. Andrew Luck turns into an entirely different species of human in the 4th quarter.

I'm afraid we're becoming such an entitled culture that incoming generations are getting the sense that even the mildest discomfort is anathema to the natural order of things. I swear the biggest issues I've ever had with my wife don't involve money or sex or any of the standard relationship issues; it's about her need to coddle and my need to put some calluses on the kids. And you know what? My older daughter is a badass, but I think I'm losing that fight with my youngest.

I did a nice chunk of the Long Trail this summer. With all due respect to Baxter/Katahdin, the Camels Hump - Mt Mansfield area may have been the nicest place I've ever been in the East.

This was a really good article that touches on that sort of nonsense: The Coddling of the American Mind

I just became an empty-nester last Friday, when I took my last baby off to college. I tried not to lecture him too much but a couple of the things I told him last week were... > Get off to a really kick-ass start so you're always ahead of the game > Choose your friends wisely > Control your life so that it doesn't control you > The harder you work first, the better your play will be later

It just seems to me that in order to get it home on time he needs that big long windup and two steps to push it. I'm afraid he's going to have real problems driving the ball through those winds by Thanksgiving. I've got some faith in Roman's creativity and versatility; he seems to have a knack for accentuating strengths and hiding weaknesses in his QB. He's a big part of the reason I think Taylor could be a legitimate weapon for the Bills if used wisely, but as a long term solution I'm afraid that just might be one bridge too far. Whichever way they go (and they are playing this one really close to the vest) I've already promised myself I'm not going to be the jackass that starts bagging on him the first time he hits a bit of a rough patch, because no matter who's taking snaps that is going to happen eventually. I'm just pumped to see the Bills start kicking people's asses and know that this long nightmare is over and we're entering what promises to be a long and entertaining run. Sweet Cuz I almost went with fuc#stick

I just don't think he has the natural skillset to be that guy you can trot out there for the next 5-10 years. I haven't seen him as much as I'd like yet, but I don't see that real live arm you want in a guy who can make throws to every part of the field. His greatest asset is his quicks, but as he gets older and takes a couple years of NFL pounding, that's going to become less of an advantage over time. Not to mention that when defenses starting playing a contain game against him and force him to work from the pocket, that's going to create a myriad of issues for him. I also worry about his stature as I don't know if he as the frame to take a lot of hits and still remain healthy. Seems like a great kid and a hard worker and I'd love to see the Bills create some packages for him where he gets 1 - 4 possessions a game, depending on the opponent. But relying on him to work from the pocket for 16 games a year might be asking a bit too much. This kind of thinking has also been creeping into the back of my head for a while. But I am also being resistant to it as wishful thinking

That I'm not grounded? Or that it's nice

Yes we were, and we were clearly wrong. But just because we were wrong about a guy nearly 20 years ago doesn't mean I want to be paralyzed by fear to the point of being afraid to go for it again because we might be wrong. Besides, I sort of get the sense that EJ has much more grown-ass man in him than Rob Johnson ever did Yeah, I can see where those New Romans could make a fella...........nervous I should have gone with Sarama's Verdana

Yeah, it's not like there's any prior history of it My premise was that I think Manuel should start the season; that is not contingent on the coaches agreeing with me. And I'm not buying into the limited window theory. I think between Whaley and Pegula, this franchise is set up very well for sustained long-term success.

Yeah, I don't think Ryan and Roman are invested in the success of the team. You do realize that people who have the same goal may have differing opinions on how to reach it. I'd say MDH summed it up nicely in his earlier response. Unless of course you're just arguing for the sake of being difficult and trying to pile it on with Gugny. Should I expect Tom to show up shortly and ask why I hate Doug Whaley?

Oh no you didn't.......

Thanks man, although considering my choice of topic that sentiment is not likely widespread. I don't see it that way at all, which is one of the reasons I'm willing to take some short-term lumps watching Manuel develop. I think we have a young, sharp, proactive GM who wants nothing more on this Earth than to build a winning franchise. We also have a hungry new owner who is willing to do whatever it takes to win. That is a beautiful combination and when you factor in how loaded this roster already is, I believe it sets up the Bills for sustained, long-term success. Typically I'd be doubtful, but considering that we've already seen it happening there's no reason he can't continue on that trajectory

Just watch both of them stand in the pocket and throw the 20yrd out from the opposite hash and it won't take long at all to see the difference

I bet y’all are thrilled to have another thread about QB’s. Well, I haven’t posted since last year so I’m starting one whether you like it or not. Why should EJ Manuel be the starter in Week 1? It’s not because he’s the best QB on the roster, because right now he’s no better (or even as consistent) than the other two guys he’s competing with. It’s not because he gives the Bills the best chance to win in Week 1, because right now he probably doesn’t give them any better chance than either of the other guys. The reason he should start the first game of the season is because he gives the Bills the best chance to win a Super Bowl at some point in the next 5 years. I’ve been thinking about the dynamic we’ve been observing throughout this offseason and the one thing that keeps coming to the forefront, both with the fanbase and with the franchise, is that all anybody wants to talk about is making the playoffs this year. We’ve been irrelevant for so long that we’ve reached the point where just making the playoffs one time has become the Buffalo Bills ultimate goal. I think we’re so desperate to be relevant again that we’ve developed an acute case of short-sighted tunnel vision which is making us incapable of seeing the big picture or looking any further down the road than our own hood ornament. Why is this a problem? Because our narrow-minded need for the short-term quick fix of a single playoff appearance may well cost us the opportunity to win a loftier prize in the near future. For 2 decades the Bills have been desperately wishing for a “franchise” QB to lead this team. For the first time in ages we actually have a high character, blue chip athlete with a big arm and a world-class work ethic sitting right in our laps. He’s played less than a season’s worth of NFL football under an asshat of a coach and behind an atrocious OLine; yet despite that embarrassing lack of support we’ve all watched this kid steadily improve since the day he was drafted. And now suddenly we want to stick him at the end of the bench and stop his development dead in its tracks to take a flier on some other guy who might or might not be marginally better at the moment, just because we are so desperate to make the playoffs one time?! Frag that noise. I don’t want to make the playoffs one time, I want to make multiple championship runs over the next 5-7 years; and the Bills are well-positioned to do just that if they can smartly develop a “franchise” QB to go with the ton of talent they have accumulated all over the roster. Matt Cassell is not ever going to be that guy, Tyrod Taylor is not ever going to be that guy. But unlike those two, EJ Manuel has the god-given toolbox and the natural skillset to become exactly that guy. Do we really want to kick the potential franchise QB we’ve been waiting 20 years for to the curb for what may or may not be an incremental short-term improvement because we’ve become so pathetically desperate that our big goal has now been reduced to making the playoffs one time? I say the hell with being the scared, desperate little ninnies who are so afraid of mistakes that we’re not willing to dare greatly. The hell with playing it safe when there’s a chance for glory sitting right there in front of us if we’re bold enough to risk it. The hell with just making the playoffs this year when being resolute and steadfast might lead to the grand prize down the road. Put Manuel out there in Week 1 and let him make the mistakes that he needs to make before he can learn to eliminate them. Give him the realistic chance to continue the progress he’s clearly been making and to possibly reach the level that can get us over the top. If he stops improving, then we can turn to our Brad Johnson or our Doug Flutie and play for just one year. But don’t start with one of those guys at the expense of developing the kid that might be exactly who and what we’ve been desperately seeking for 20 years.

1) Whaley does not have the sort of outsized ego that would prevent him from improving his team by refusing to move a player just because it was his draft pick 2) Do you have any idea exactly how long Doug has known LeSean McCoy? 3) No matter how many times you try to put it on Rex, it will never become any truer. I don't think either team "lost" the deal. They both will probably be a little better for it over the next 3-4 years and by then both guys will be held together with too much duct tape and bailing wire to be impact players. The Bills get significantly better in an area of need and only give up a LB in the middle of a deep rotation. No worries.

Wow, is Urban Meyer a fantastic football coach.....

I'll throw a one-man party if they can figure out a way to get Bill Callahan on board. But as far as analyzing opponents/game-planning/self-scouting/quality control/etc Rex can provide a unique perspective on how oppoinents are likely to attack the Bills and how that can compromise the integrity of opposing defenses. When they're implementing the offense during the offseason and calling it on gameday, I agree Rex should be concentrating elsewhere, but he's got too valuable a pair of eyes to not utilize them as much as possible. That would be as dumb as acquiring a stud WR and then making him an afterthought in your offense.

A significant mutual respect has already developed between the two. Probably because they have views on the game of football that are VERY compatible. It's already light years better than what was going on with Marrone.

I don't know if you're just having a bit 'o' fun, but if you're serious then I disagree. I want Rex very involved with the offense once the season starts, particularly on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

He was a 4 year starter in college and he's probably already played 50 games in the NFL. I think we have a pretty good idea of what he is and isn't going to be.

I'm talking about his ability to recognize what is happening on a football field (reading defenses, recognizing down/distance, understanding matchup advantages/disadvantages, playing to game situations, etc). His ability to take standardized tests isn't something that interests me.

I agree with most of this in principle, but I will say one thing for Scwartz. He displayed an unexpected level of self-control by not tripping over his own schwartz and trying to play too much with the most loaded toybox he's ever likely to see.