Coach Tuesday

This is a solid post. Don’t let his youthful age fool you - McD’s vision is beyond old-fashioned; it’s downright outmoded.

Thank you - for future thread-creators, it helps if you actually explain what the heck you are talking about and don’t assume that the rest of us can divine it...

They are wonderful people. They have no business running sports franchises - they have absolutely no idea what they’re doing.

Let me start by saying that I really like the Pegulas as people - they seem like good citizens and possess integrity and beneficence. And yes, we as fans owe them gratitude for keeping both the Bills and Sabres afloat and in Buffalo. All of that said, they are horrible owners. They are well-intentioned and want to win, but clearly have no idea how to do it. They have empowered the wrong people at the wrong times. They have proven to be susceptible to good interviews at the expense of more sophisticated due diligence. They have employed bizarre organizational structures that have undermined the few quality hires they have made. They have supported borderline insane team building strategies that have resulted in a near-impossible run of sustained failure. There does not seem to be any end to this trend on the horizon and I’m really struggling to understand what the plan is for turning the Bills and Sabres into winning franchises. Certainly, pairing first-time GMs with first-time coaches has failed miserably for both teams and, in the case of the Bills, the decision to expel elite talent, rather than maximizing and supporting the talent on hand with quality coaching and added depth, has bombed in spectacular fashion. In a word, they have destroyed two sports franchises. I’m wondering if it’s time for Kim and Terry to look for sale partners for one or both teams. Perhaps they could sell a majority stake and become passive minority owners (although the leagues may have some restrictions on this) or perhaps they should just sell outright. I’d imagine at this point their investments have appreciated nicely. Perhaps it is time for them to reap some of those gains and turn the businesses over to individuals or entities that know what they’re doing. I know some of you will respond to let me know how ungrateful I am. That’s fine, you’re entitled to your opinions. My opinion is that the fans here deserve more than just “we kept the franchises in Buffalo” - rather, the fans, who give their hard-earned dollars to billionaires, deserve competence. We’re not getting competence.

I’m starting to wonder whether the Pegulas should consider cashing out, if not selling the teams outright, at least selling majority stakes and becoming passive investors. They’ve destroyed both franchises through a combination of good intentions and plain old incompetence.

I can’t follow the language here. I have very little idea what you’re even talking about.

I was sure they were going to run it on that play. Whatever. First time owners enabling first time GMs enabling first time head coaches enabling first time play callers. Buffalo sports teams are at a historic low this season and that's really saying something.

As I predicted might happen, this decision drastically sped up the Pegulas' evaluation of its coaching staff - just like Peterman, McD's flaws are now on tape for the world to see. As a sad bonus, McD has probably lost his team. I can see a "one and done" scenario if someone like Gruden or Harbaugh frees up. I firmly believe that McD assured Terry that the roster would be competitive this year notwithstanding the aggressive (highly questionable) moves to rid the team of talent (McD = Pol Pot), and that McD further and specifically assured ownership that the time was right to make a QB change. The decision to start a reckless, noodle-armed, unprepared Pete Naterman with the playoffs in reach will go down as one of the dumbest NFL coaching decisions of all time. I don't see how McD recovers his career, quite honestly.

It was an epically bad performance that should be the end of his dream to be an NFL starter. It reminded me of horror shows we've seen through the years, mostly on other teams - Ryan Lindley, Spurgeon Wynn, Aaron Brooks, Babe Laufenberger... Peterman showed yesterday that, in addition to being a reckless moron (he just threw balls up for grabs into the middle of the field while under pressure), he can't put any zip on balls to the sidelines. Pete Naterman is not an NFL starter and never will be.

The Pegulas should take a knee as owners.

McDermott with the epic faceplant. He may not get a second season.

McDermott may not get a second season.

Dawkins ate a dude for dinner on that run.

“I took a calculated risk.”

I fear he may be playing himself into a top ten pick at this point. He is The One.

“I’m taking a calculated risk.” Remember that quote from McD if Pete Naterman flails tomorrow. I’ll say it again: McD is doing his bosses a big favor with this move. McD may find out what he has at QB; the Pegulas are definitely about to find out what they have at head coach.

This is precisely my concern - Pete Naterman plays just ok, maybe puts up more garbage time stats against KC and NE, and McD talks himself into bypassing a QB in round one. Given McD’s stubbornness for rolling with “his guys” and his insistence on a very specific personality type for the players he’ll put up with, don’t be surprised to see them use their two first rounders on an Eric Wood and a Donte Whitner... i will be fine with Peterman faceplanting. It’s almost just as good as him playing lights out. The worst is that he plays mediocre and they still don’t know what they’ve got...

I'll start calling him Pete Naterman.

Because Ike had no skills. He was stiff and slow.

I honestly thought you two were the same poster until just now. Huh.

They are incredibly stubborn about the RB position. Incredibly.

You're right Dave, although it may not be as black and white as your post suggests. They have a number of contingencies they're worrying about as they approach the offseason, and the front seven is certainly high up there on the list. They need to see what they have at the QB position. Whether they needed to get themselves into this situation is another matter...

Stating the obvious: the coach and GM now get to evaluate their rookie QB to see what they have in him in advance of their first full offseason. Stating the less-than-obvious: the owners are now being given a ton more data to evaluate their coach and GM, who have made several "calculated risks" this season and continue to assure the fanbase and players (and, I firmly believe, ownership) that this team has what it takes to be in the playoffs. The timing of this switch, the reasons for it, and most importantly, how it plays out, will tell the Pegulas a TON about the two men they hired to steer their franchise. It will also inform them about the offensive coordinator, who will now have had two quarterbacks (a rookie and a vet) exposed to his "system." Given the fact that this team wasn't going to win the Super Bowl this season no matter what, McBeane just did the Pegulas a huge favor. Lots of important information being given to the folks in charge.

Ok... did he obfuscate to Terry?

John, when McD says “we’re built to be better than 5-4,” is he lying?