bills_fan

GG, I don't know what scheme Minny is playing. I haven't seen them all year. I just know that PW was the right player for our system and the way we played last year. Running the same system with the only difference being RE (thats why I only looked at TB and Atl, wanted to see us with TKO), yielded vastly different results. The essential reason was the xtra blocker PW tied up while still maintaining his ground.

Or a very expensive FA signing. Its just a bit depressing that we go into this offseason with our biggest priorities being run stuffing DT and LT, when last year our biggest losses were run stuffing DT and LT. I know. But Sam and Phat Pat complemented each other's styles very well. Edwards, plays very similar to Sam (tho not as good obviously) and isn't suited to Phat Pat's role. I'd like to get a hold of the Pitt game tape to break it down as to why they were able to run against us even with PW. PW was a monster in that game. My hypothesis is that one of 2 things happened....1 - PW freelanced and tried to penetrate and threw the scheme off (unlikely) or 2- The LBs and Milloy were a step slow filling the hole after a long year against fresher Pitts back-ups (more likely).

I was a bit bored and was able to get tapes of 3 games from the 04 season and contrast them with some games in the 05 season, to try and get a handle on what we did differently in our run D. This is what I found out... I contrasted these games from 04 (the Seattle game where we held Alexander to 39 yds, the Jets game in Buffalo, held Martin to 67 yards, and the Baltimore game, Lewis (not jamal) hit us for 89 yards on 21 carries) with the Atlanta game (1st half) and the TB game. I picked these games from 05 because I wanted to see how we were doing with TKO. The Bills scheme in 04 was predicated upon forcing the RB to run at Phat Pat, and pick a lane to either side of him. Essentially the DEs rushed upfield and established containment outside. Sam penetrated the backfield, trying to force the RB to cut towards PW. PW, on damn near every play was doubled, but he held his ground. That created three gaps for the RB to rush through...the spot Sam vacated, and on either side of PW. TKO, Fletcher and Milloy generally filled the gaps nicely, making the tackle and not allowing the RB any room to move. Essentially our LBs & Milloy were the 3rd line of defense against the run. First the DEs did a very nice job of holding outside containment and not letting the RB bust it outside. Then Sam would shoot a gap and guess trying to make the tackle. This is the essence of Sam's game, penetration, and he is very good at it. This strategy worked well as if Sam guessed wrong, PW was able to hold his ground and force the RB to make a split second decision and try a gap, where a LB or Milloy was waiting. It was quite an effective scheme. Now, contrast that with the 05 Bills. Basically, everything is the same except that Edwards or Anderson are not commanding a double team. Sam has generally been beating the double team he is commanding, but RE or TA is being blocked 1 on 1. That leaves the opposing C, usually, to take on a LB in the gap. Cadillac and Dunn/Duckett simply followed the C, who sealed off the gap leading to big gains. Our LBs, then tried to compensate by not filling the gap but heading up field, guessing where the RB is, trying to make a play. This is the infamous "losing gap responsibilities" that Gray spoke of. The problem is that the gap is larger due to RE or TA being moved off the ball (didn't happen too often) but neither were ever doubled, which happened all the time with PW last year. Also RE is more of a penetrater and not a stay-at-home lane clogger. The conclusion I drew from this is that Pat Williams was the keystone in which our run D was built on. The necessity for him to be doubled on 1st and 2nd down, allowed us to do more as far as filling the gaps to stop the run. Essentially the LBs had either a clear lane or more time (due to the frequent chip blocks on PW that I saw) to fill the gap before the blocking and RB got to the hole. Essentially, even tho PW played on only 60% of the defensive plays, his role was huge. He occupied two blockers enabling our LB/Milloy or Sam to make the play almost unimpeded. Then he came off the field on 2nd and long or 3rd down and Edwards, more of a penetrater, rushed the passer. For us to get back to being successful stopping the run, we NEED a guy to clog the lane and maintain his position. It also won't hurt if he draws double teams. Unfortunately, I don't know too many of those type of guys in the league. We need a vet, probably signed as a FA because he needs a rep to draw double teams, who can clog the lane. Is Big Ted available?

Actually, when healthy, Villy can play. I'd put Geisinger in for Gandy. Gandu is a backup T, nothing more. Anderson is a fat tub of goo. Teague is awful. LT - Peters LG - Geisinger C - Preston RG - Villy RT - MW Lets see what we have over the next 8 games. Play JP, Parrish, Evans etc. This may actually be done over the bye.

Pass that schitt, man!! While I admire your optimism, since 2002 I have never felt worse going into a game than this one. The Bills have absolutely no chance to win on Sunday in Foxboro. That sentence was very difficult to type, as I have not felt that way since the 3-13 year of 01, and at least we were in an acknowledged rebuilding stage. Now, I think TD & Co. are simply delusional in thinking this team has any chance at all. The problems on this team run deep and will take years to correct. Its a damn shame that we are entering a second rebuilding phase under TD, after having not been built the first time.

Thats exactly the team I want the Bills to be.

You may be right. But we'll never know unless we at least work him out.

Chargers....hmmmm.....AJ Smith, used to be our guy back when we had a good team.

Thats one more win in Foxboro than TD's teams have. Oh yeah, that SD team was the team assembled by those guys who know nothing about football...the late John Butler & AJ Smith. Glad we don't have those guys in our front office.

Point taken.

Yes, back in July. Now its October and the guy isn't working yet. Maybe he'd take a pro-rated deal. Doesn't hurt to ask, and then announce that we spoke with him. At least it would give the appearance of trying.

But, but, but...they're all his players (except EM), coaches and organization. He's the chef that put this witches brew together. Sorry, his fault this team is where it is right now. Noone else's. The buck stops with the President/GM and noone else.

Gerald Warren, Courtney Brown, Ekuban etc. sure changed their attitudes in a hurry when they became Broncos. Point is, what we have is not working. I have no idea if Verba would work out with the Bills, you'd think the guy would want to try and salvage his career. Maybe it works out, maybe it doesn't...but at least try. Send the message that you're pissed and will try anything to help out the team. This is not cutting Bobby Shaw, but the players & fans need to know you're trying or else this ship is going down fast.

Precious!!

Give the guy a pro-rated contract for 9 games and see how he does. Do we have anything to lose?

Does TD count in that mix?

Ross Verba ever sign with anyone?

Did we ever consider requiring a Breathalyzer before permitting posting?

Nor, apparently, is it good enough for TD.

I was thinking about this exact point on Sunday. We blew it. Again. Td was wowed by Greggo's lists & passed on Fox and Lewis. Then we get down to 3 coaches, one of whom was a good HC for 5+ years with a team that had no front office, another who won 5, yes, five SBs (with Parcells and Belicheck) two of the coaches in NFL history, and a guy who was OC for a mediocre offense for 3 years and earned the nickname "wicky-wacky" Mularkey because of his penchant for falling in love with trick plays. Who does TD pick... Yes, for whiffing of HC twice, he should lose his friggin job. He's had 5 years to put this together and blew it. The team now has to be almost totally rebuilt. The D is old, we have no oline, all we have is a few decent young skill players to build around. I don't want TD rebuilding it again. He fugged it up. Let someone else have a shot.

I love him!! He does represent everything thats right about pro football. The best signing TD ever made was TKO. I can't wait to see him back in uniform.

I wouldn't go that far. We lost, but we had our chances to win.

Nice thread...well as a product of a Jesuit Education in WNY, we didn't call it detention, but JUG...Justice Under God. Each day of JUG counted as 3 units. We didn't sit there in a room, but had to perform all sorts of maual labor in the school, such as painting, sweeping, cleaning bathrooms etc. When I gradauated out of the class of 93 students, I was the leader in JUG by a large margin from our graduating class. A couple of notable examples.... CHS had a walk-a-thon raising money for charity every year. So, my junior year, a couple of us get the bright idea that the walk-a-thon takes too much time, time that would be better spent in the pool hall on Main Street, yep the Hippodrome. So, we joined the walk-a-thon with our classmates and started walking. Then, we ditched around a corner and hid out till the crowd passes. Then, we jumped on the new Buffalo subway, headed downtown to shoot some pool. As the stop opens up right in front of the pool hall and we go to exit the car, who is standing there waiting for us...yep, the Dean of Discipline for CHS. 2 weeks of JUG. Senior year took Accounting, it was 2 period before our lunch, which was late around 1 PM. So we'd sit in class each various pieces of our lunch, an apple, chips or even a sandwich while we did the work. The teacher, who was new which was the only reason we got away with it that far, finally got fed up with it and said "There will be no dining in class." Well, we didn't think we were dining, but figured we'd show him what dining was. So the next day, I bring in a big bag to class, as the teacher starts his lesson, my buddy pushes his desk so that its facing mine. I then proceed to pull out a cloth tablecloth, cloth napkins, two plates of Mom's china, crystal wine glasses, silverware, a candleabra and candles and some leftover steak and potatoes from last nite's dinner, along with some grape juice. We proceed to set the food out, light the candles, pour the grape juice and dine while discussing the day's lesson. Even the teacher got a kick out of it, even though he said he had to give us JUG on principal. 6 units - Dining in Class Junior year, class trip to visit LeMoyne Jesuit College. We end up staying at the rectory. Big mistake. The priests failed to lock their liquor cabinet. We raided just about every bottle, trying some stuff that I didn't even know existed. We're completely bombed and hid the empty bottles in the suspended ceiling or filled the Vodka bottles with water. Monday morning comes around, during the announcements the Dean would call down the students he wanted to see (ie You were in trouble and he knew about it). He saves my name for last..."And finally I need to see Dan XXX in my office immediately, and Dan you'd better start sweating." 1 month of JUG including 3 summer Saturdays. I can continue...but nothing we did was malicious, just for fun. We were also the only ones who had an actual smoking lounge established for us where we could go smoke cigarettes without reprisal. Basically, the Dean was sick of catching us on school grounds and giving us JUG for smoking. He realized we weren't going to quit, so established a smoking lounge for us inside the school. It was a nice perk.

I did say most people. Fortunately, I haven't been in any fights in a stadium or outside of it. Just some good-natured back & forth. Knowing your personality (As much as you can from a message board), it would seem like you were just in the wrong place, wrong time, and encountered a jerk or two.

I've been to many NFL stadiums and I have always worn my JK jersey, and Bills paraphanalia. Don't be a jerk and people generally leave you alone. If you conduct yourself with class, most people will not give you a problem.