MartyBall4Buffalo

I figured for the hell of it even though these constant willis is bad threads are mind numbingly annoying I'd give it some play. There seems to be a misconseption that willis is "slow" in the open field. People point this out by stating "well he doesn't have long runs" lets up this theory to rest, and I'll propose what really is the problem with our running game with an alternate theory other then "Willis is slow" I'm gonna use 5 rb's in this example Larry Johnson/Willis McGahee/LaDainian Tomlinson/Edgerrin James/Tiki Barber. To show "40 times" are pretty much useless, and the reason for runningback success typicaly in ypc and tds is not the speed of a runningback but surrounding factors such as your offensive line and your teams passing game Rb #1- Larry Johnson Year G GS Att Yards Avg Lg TD 20+ FD 2004- 10 3 120 581 4.8 46 9 4 34 2005- 16 9 336 1750 5.2 49 20 15 97 Rb #2- Willis McGahee Year G GS Att Yards Avg Lg TD 20+ FD 2004 16 11 284 1128 4.0 41 13 10 64 2005 16 15 325 1247 3.8 27 5 4 71 Rb #3- Ladanian Tomlinson Year G GS Att Yards Avg Lg TD 20+ FD 2004 15 15 339 1335 3.9 42 17 6 68 2005 16 16 339 1462 4.3 62 18 8 71 Rb #4- Tiki Barber Year G GS Att Yards Avg Lg TD 20+ FD 2004 16 14 322 1518 4.7 72 13 11 77 2005 16 16 357 1860 5.2 95 9 16 72 Rb # 5 Edgerin James Year G GS Att Yards Avg Lg TD 20+ FD 2004 16 16 334 1548 4.6 40 9 6 73 2005 15 15 360 1506 4.2 33 13 5 94 I used some rb's who are really good receiving backs but a few things stand out. One Tiki Barber is the best runningback in the nfl right now. Shaun Alexander be damned. Barber reminds me a lot of Thurman in his prime. For all the great press LT gets and a lot of it is deserved neither his ypc or his runs over 20 yards aren't all that great. Infact he has the same amount of 20+ yards runs in the last 2 years as our very own Willis Mcgahee with Tomlinson having 69 more carries each having 14 20+ yard runs the last 2 years. They're all relativly close in first down runs. Johnson with 131, Willis with 135, LT with 139, tiki with 149, and edge leading this pack with 167. The differential in yards and touchdowns screams out to me we've been very one dimensional on offense and this cant be blamed on Willis much to everyones dismay and I really cant throw it on the offensive line either as he had much more success around the goalline in 04 then in 05 for one very simple reason. Runningbacks will generally get more touchdowns when your team is capable of throwing the ball. These other 4 runningbacks had teams that ranked fairly high in passing offense while the bills were pretty attrocious. KC ranked 5th, Sd-12th Giants- 11th Colts- 4th. Buff- 29th All I'm really trying to hammer home here is Willis is comparably "game speed" fast enough to hang with top tier runningbacks and I have little doubt that once the real problem of the offense is fixed and we develop a quaterback to lead a respectable passing game Willis's #'s will go up specifically in tds and yards. I think he'll be more along the lines of edge in ypc, but using him more as a receiver instead of trying to use him like a jamal lewis/bettis type will increase his production as well. Hopefully our passing woes improve and Willis can keep on being our most productive offensive player.

I don't think much of Drew Brees but I sincerely hope you're right. Culpepper was/is the most physically gifted qb in the league imo. With the injury to Burelson and no run game to speak of, teams were able to focus solely on culpepper. He'll be surrounded by a much better supporting cast in miami with Chambers/Booker/Ronnie Brown/Randy McMichael.

Yeah Eric Warfield Although I'd say they were more perfectly placed passes then bad coverage. FWIW Warfield was let go and now is with NE. The Chiefs seem to be banking on Julian Battle who they drafted 3 years ago and was injured last year, and ex bronco corner Lenny Walls who would be better off playing fs then corner. The chiefs seem content with mostly sitting still and hoping their horrible defense with basically the same personell steps up just enough.

I guess I'll argue Jimmy Smiths case http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/SmitJi00.htm 13 seasons played Seasons among the league's top 10 Receptions: 1997-7, 1999-1, 2001-2 Receiving yards: 1996-5, 1997-4, 1998-5, 1999-2, 2001-4 Yards from scrimmage: 1999-7 His seasons among the top 10 are pretty compareable to andre reed. Neither one ever finished first in any single season catagory. Smith placed top 10 2 more times then Reed in receiving yards. Among the league's all-time top 50 Receptions: 7 Receiving yards: 11 Receiving TDs: 31t Yards from scrimmage: 33 I say based on his spot among the top 50 all time Jimmy Smith deserves the hof. Not as a 1st ballot hall of famer but he has a pretty good case.

Maybe we should get rid of Lee Evans he hasn't even hit 50 catches in a season yet, or London Fletcher all his tackles are always downfield, or Terrence McGee cause he only had 1 ko return td last year he's obviousily on the decline..... Forget the fact Willis is our most productive offensive player and that he doesnt have the luxury of a passing game that other top tier backs enjoy like larry johnson tiki barber or alexander. Nope it's all on willis.....

Oh thats right McGahee's 100+ yard week 17 performance was the reason we lost to the jets

Sounds like a plan

Yeah WHAT THE !@#$ he should be home reading studying and sleeping with his playbook and living a life modeled from a patron saint instead of having a life outside of his job

Not all that suprised. I highly doubt one ever will as much as some fans clamor for a exciting passing game buffalo just isn't ideal place for an aerial type offense. Even during Jim Kellys career he only had 2 really good years in 90 and 91. Without Thurman Thomas that offense wouldn't have nearly been effective he made the whole thing go imo. In his 16 year career Reed only had 4 1000 yard seasons and only once reached 10 tds.

Thats what Im talking about Why be under water when he could be drowning in that

Not just you but thats kind of like saying I'd take hash over retatta, Either way it's garbage.

5 LB AJ Hawk Ohio State SR AJ Hawk is a real character guy who can get in there and make all the little plays. Translation: he’s white. 10 QB Matt Leinart USC SR Leinart made the right decision in not entering the draft after last season. Sure he would’ve been the top pick in the draft, but he never would’ve had a chance to lose the Rose Bowl. 11 QB Jay Cutler Vanderbilt SR The Broncos just found Jake Plummer’s replacement. Cutler actually has some things in common with Plummer, in that he’s a tough, hard-nosed player who hasn’t accomplished a damn thing in his whole career. 14 DT Brodrick Bunkley FSU SR This is a nice pick, but will his criminal background come back to haunt the Eagles? What, he doesn’t have a criminal background? I thought he went to Florida State. 15 S Tye Hill Clemson SR Probably the worst pick that the Rams could have made here. They have so many holes to fill and they pick a cornerback who used to “run track?” Please. If he was such a great track runner why the hell did he switch to football? 20 DE Tamba Hali Penn St SR The Chiefs love Tamba Hali’s arms, which are perfect for arm tackling, the Chiefs main defensive strategy. They have secondary strategies, too, such as lying on the ground and getting stepped on. 26 DT John McCargo NC State JR The bad news: all the draft experts disapproved of this pick. The good news: none of those people know what the !@#$ they’re talking about. 27 RB DeAngelo Williams Memphis SR The Panthers’ other running back, DeShaun Foster, is as fragile as they come. He’s fine as long as nobody tries to tackle him, but you know those defenders. Stubborn stubborn stubborn. Always with the tackling. 30 RB Joseph Addai LSU SR The great thing about Addai, and the thing the Colts scouts are most impressed by, is the fact that he wasn’t even the featured back in college. That’s the kind of player who can step in and make a big impact on your practice squad. 32 DE Mathias Kiwanuka BC SR Kiwanuka is a raw player who’s a bit undersized and can’t defend against the run. Under Tom Coughlin’s tutelage, however, he should become really adept at showing up to meetings on time. 685921[/snapback] funny stuff the best one though is hawks.

First off let me say the holes we have probably cant be filled this year, so next season our most likely needs are as follows: 1. OT- Mike Gandy is nothing more then average at best. Better suited to play guard, lacks the inital quickness to deal with speed rushers. Better run blocker then I thought he would be. Would prefer him at rg. I'd also like Jason Peters to drastically improve as a run blocker. 2. OG- Chris Villarrial is getting old. Bennie Anderson moves like molasses. Maybe one of the younger guys will pan out but thats yet to be seen. 3. DE- We need a true starter opposite Aaron Schobel. While it would be nice to get that real stud edge rusher I'll comprimise for any sort of upgrade over Kelsay/Denney. I was hoping it would be addressed this year. Kelsay has shown nothing as far as I've seen. Not good at getting to the qb and can't hold up against the run. 4. LB- Our Lb's are aging. Spikes will be 30 in December, and coming off an achilles injury. Fletcher 31 on the 19th, and posey 31 in August. Our depth as an insurance policy for any of these guys is slim pickings. The only one who's shown anything as far as stepping in and contribuiting as a starter is Crowell. Hagan and Stamer are good st's guys but due to their lack of playing time at LB they leave a lot to be desired. This is it for now. I'll wait to after the season to comment on positions like qb,te, cb depth etc etc.

If thats the measuring stick you're gonna use for rb's then you're going to be sorely dissapointed in any rb we ever get.

No ok keyshaw does have a superbowl ring *2002 oak W,48-21 | 0 0 0 | 6 69 0 his stats against the raiders. I do stand corrected

What has any of these players ever won? Just curious I'll stand by.....

I've stated time and time again in order for a rb to excell at a top tier level said rb must have the threat of a passing offense. All the great rb's have it. Alexander, Barber, Larry Johnson, LT Well he had it anyway we'll see there. McGahee is the last person on the offense I'm worried about. Lets see who does what at qb and can take some pressure off, cause so far no ones steped up. Getting long runs is not enterily on a rb its on the oline and threat of a passing games. Teams with better passing games generally have runningbacks that have higher ypc averages. It's not getting past inital defenders it's keeping 3rd tier defenders from sitting in the box to stop your run game. Like I said I'm more worried about which of the so far lousy quaterbacks we have will step up and become mediocre then I am about the fastest bills rb to 2000 yards.

great win for the sabres. Good luck the rest of the series. The sabres and ottawa are definitly gonna have to tighten up on defense. It was painful to watch the goalies getting hung out to dry like that. Miller came up with some big saves in the 3rd that really kept you in the game. Congrats on the offensive show down.

I dont get where Angelo Crowell is "too small" to play slb. Crowell 6'1 235 this is from his prospect profile Positives: Has a muscular frame with good quickness and agility … Shows strength at the point of attack, taking on the lineman or fullback with aggression, using his hands well to shed … Smart athlete who calls defensive signals … Stays on his feet and knows how to avoid blocks while maintaining balance on the move … Sees counter plays quickly … Can drop into zone coverage with his head on a swivel and has the acceleration to get to the receivers in the deep zone … Also shows good awareness in man coverage, mirroring the receiver in the short area before switching off on his assignment … Comes off the edge with explosion as a pass rusher and can blast his way up the middle to track down the ball … Can play any linebacker position, but his hand usage, run pursuit and zone drops are better suited for the middle … Allows little cushion on running backs coming out of the backfield in passing situations … Shows fluid lateral agility and crisp change-of-direction technique. The Tampa 2 defense relies heavily on speed from the lb position. The MLB especialy as he is asked to do a lot of deep zone coverage. I think if Spikes is healthy Crowell would be just fine at slb in this defense as it's not about stepping up and filling gaps but rather covering an area and relying on speed which seem to be the anti-thesis of what posey can do.

Having lighter faster players imo can be a benefit as the season goes on. My big beef with guys like adams, pat williams, ted washington etc is that they seem to tire out easily not only during the course of games but more so as the season wears on their play generally regresses. I think with the emphasis on a swarming defense we'll be able to attack the backfield instead of hoping someone clogs the lane. The cover 2 might not be the most full proof way of stoping the run but thats not really what it's designed for. Backfield pressure and turnovers is what it's based on. I like the team defense concept and the old addege speed kills. If we struck on these draft picks, I think we can have a hell of a defense that overall will be better then what we've seen here previousily.

Having been there before not to suicide but having lost a friend all I can tell you is I found it best so be around friends and share memories it's ok to cry dont try to hold it back it'll only hurt you more that way in the long run, but being around friends remince about the good times and sharing your feelings is really the best way to go about it. Honestly I learned hearing other people tell you it's ok doesnt really cut it. At times it'll even sound empty and disingenious. Life can be cruel sometimes, and definitly unfair but remembering and recognising the good in the positive people around you will make it easier as each day passes. Hang in there and best wishes to you and your friends family.

Round 2 (Conference Semi-Final) Matchups: Eastern Conference 1 Ottawa vs 4 Buffalo Ottawa in 7 2 Carolina vs 3 New Jersey New Jersey in 5 Western Conference 5 San Jose vs 8 Edmonton San Jose in 6 6 Anaheim vs 7 Colorado Anaheim in 6

How could we afford McNair and Brady Quinn? Seriousily how about we wait for this season to even start before discussing this and then my answer will probably still be no. I'm incredibly tired of wasting high picks on qb's. I'd rather build a team that build a quaterback. Buffalo is not an ideal place for a great passing offense. We Dont need the next whoever, some awesome passer who will put up 4000 yards and 28 tds every season. We need someone who can just open things up, and occasionaly make a play while leaning on the running game. Thats not too much to ask. I'd much rather waste 1st rd picks on boring linemen then franchise qb's. I'd also like to see Brady Quinn have more then one good year before giving this serious thought.

hmm actually what I noticed on that is Lee Evans decides to ignore him Jonathan Smith didnt really have a chance not that he even tried but vasher ran by evans and then someone else before getting in there. There seemed to be a lot of confusion on the blocking aspect of that play.

trey teague