FLFan

She has a good point.

That's correct. Lots of speculation that SF will cut him rather than pay $7.5 m for a back up QB, but that is certainly no guarantee. With the minimal amount they are paying Kaepernick as a 2nd rounder they can afford to keep both. If Smith is not creating a problem on the team, why not keep him? I would not be in favor of bringing him in even if he was available.

834

It is unrealistic to expect that no QBs will be taken in the top 7 given the obvious needs of the teams in front of the Bills and others, like the Jets, who may well look to jump up. Nassib may not even be there at 8. like Eball, I am concerned about the Bills pick being a bit too obvious. My take is that their new Coaches certainly know everything they need to know about Nassib. if they like him and he is there at 8 they should take him. Waiting for QBs to fall to their perceived value position is how we got in this mess.

I picked one (Nassib) to see the results frankly, but I am not really sold on any of them quite yet. The senior bowl should be interesting. Generally, I think there are several on this list with good potential, all seem to have flaws. Going to be a tough decision for OBD. Nassib seems obvious given the connections, but maybe too obvious.

Nah - probably married.

Funny would not be the first adjective that comes to mind. Unless you are into dark humor, that is. Will McKelvin be the 4th? I would have to slit my wrists. Seriously.

I would really like to keep him, but I suspect he will get better offers elsewhere, and be added to the infamous "one and done" list of high 1st round DB draft picks of the Bills.

Cronyism.

Fascinating to me that so many posters, like the OP, are experts on qualifications of position coaches in the NFL. I guess they are really upset they were not asked their opinion. All senior mangers hire people they know and trust when possible, or at least backgrounds they know and trust. This is how organizations are built. It is no surprise that when you hire the Jets DC for example, he brings along people he worked with, is it? Or that when you hire a HC he turns to others he knows and trusts? Position coaches will not make or break this thing. It will take the whole staff buying into a philosophy and being able to instill that in the players. Anybody have any real input on the skills of the position coaches on their ability to do that? The coordinators seem capable to me.

As others have pointed out, these were not even the worst coaches in Bills history, much less all time in the NFL. That right there is enough to discredit anything else this guy has to say.

And who was returning kicks for Detroit? McKelvin is a premier returner who had a great season before being injured. Stefan Logan - not so much.

Stopped reading when I saw the Bleecher Report links.

Agree with this assessment, although I really do like the Pettine and Hackett hires, especially Pettine. I think Crossman will be fine if he has the tools to work with. His record is average over the past six years - good years and bad years.

According to the Football Outsiders rankings, the Eagles ST have gotten worse each year since Bobby April has been there. http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/teamst2010 Also according to these rankings, while Detroit ST was bad last year, he has had some very good ST in both Carolina and Detroit under his leadership - up and down generally.

Not sure I would agree with that. As I recall, Lewis was charged with murder, but a witness who had previously agreed to testify against him recanted his testimony, forcing the plea deal. I do not think we can say his friends had more to do with it than he did. We will probably never know. He was convicted of obstruction, a felony, and got off light. How sincere his "seeing the light" act is also a question to me. He will always be a POS as far as I am concerned. Living near Baltimore, I am pretty sick of the hero worship heaped on him around here.

They are not called "Baltimorons" for nothing.

I agree. My main point is that Bills cannot afford to be passive even if it means taking the guy they want way ahead of "projections". I would be fine with taking QB at 8 if that is they guy they think they need, Mel Kiper and Todd McShay be damned. They need to get the guy they want.

I LOVE the moves so far. I was not a fan of hiring Lovie, which in many ways would have been the "safe" move, but there is a reason why he was fired and a reason why he is not favored for of any of the other open positions. He has had his chance. These are bold moves by the Bills, but measured and well reasoned. They have acted swiftly and decisively and in the process nabbed a HC who was on the the radar of multiple other teams, and a DC with exactly the kind of agressive and creative pedigree the Bills need, who also happens to be a key member of a rival's staff. I also love the OC hire for the reasons I have already posted in the Hackett thread. I think there are many reasons for optimism over these moves - not the same old Bills IMO. Of course, given history, our optimism should be tempered by wait and see, but I do not see anything to be upset about so far.

It does not sound the same at all to me. Chan indicated right from the beginning that he would focus on offense and call the plays. He brought in an administrative hack to do the grunt work during the week. In this case, Marrone has been clear he will not call plays, and will rely on the coordinators. He has brought in someone who has played that role for him, who is in line with his philosophies, and who he trusts to implement them. Very different. I like this hire a lot - young, innovative, and in tune with the HC. Well done, IMO.

They have lots to talk about ... The roaring 20's, the good old days of pencils, arthritis, gout, etc.

I suspect that if the Bills do not take a QB at number 8, a distinct possibility, they will need to trade back into the first round to assure themselves of getting the guy they want. They cannot sit back passively and wait for a QB to fall to them. Too many teams with QB needs ahead of them. In all likelihood, but the time of the draft, you will see QB prospects coming up the board. If they escape the top 8 without their target getting picked, they damn well better be agressive on moving up, perhaps way up. I have no problem with them taking a QB they want at the expense of more draft choices.

While this no doubt true, I think there is real reason for optimism in this case. Although, our offseason hopes have often turned to frustration once the football starts .... Happy offseason everyone.

I would love this hire. Would bring a much more creative and agressive approach which would obvioulsy be a welcome change. Great choice if Marrone can pull it off.

I could not care less if he is likeable as long as he wins. I guess he was evasive as he did not answer any of the questions regarding personnel plans, coordinator hiring plans, etc. Then again, why should he? I liked that he stated he thinks the players should hear his plans from him and not the media, and that he does not believe in discussing players publically. Good for him, although this will hardly make him a media darling. Not sure what people expected in an introductory PC. Let's see how the staff building goes.