Fan in Chicago

I am not sure about going deep early. We don't know how our line is going to hold up. If, say, for the first play we send all our speedsters deep and Trent wants to heave it, there has to be assurance that the protection will hold up for 5 seconds to allow the separation. Else, one of two things can happen - Trent gets plastered or gets intercepted. Either of those situations will immediately put Trent to go into a shell for the entire game, given his already fragile confidence level. So, I think there need to be a lot of mixing up of passes vs run where the passes are medium/short type. Once we start getting success in these passes, then we can take the risk of bombing away. So, I think we need to be aggressive but not in the throw deep department - more in the pass-run balance area.

Yea, I did watch the game last night. He sucked.

[/b But then again, Cutler should have known it is not Marshall out there.

You buy into that excuse ? The QB should know what the limitations of his WR corps are. That last INT was a high risk throw to an inexperienced receiver. He should not have attempted that throw at all. Granted not all four were entirely his fault but then again there were other stupid throws that should have been picked off. So, in all he deserves having 4 INTs on his record and the major reason why the Bears lost this game.

Hey, I actually like that. Do you get the credit for that ?

Strangely, the Lions are probably thinking the same about the Bills.

I predict a closer game than anticipated but we still lose. Pats* 24 Bills 17 Fearless prediction # 2: Pats* go with the no huddle in their opening drive and try to confuse the heck out of Fewell. With everyone amped up about the Bill's no-huddle, the Pats* doing the same will be BB attempting to gain a psychological advantage early on (as if he needs any).

I am confused - hadn't Bell already replaced Walker as starter at LT ? So essentially at worst, we kicked our RT to the curb - which is only slightly worse. I think a more legitimate question would have been why the coaches waited so long to realize that Bell may be better at LT than Walker. Perhaps two pre-season games may have been enough ? Again, I think the outrage and nervousness stems from both events happening (canning of Schonert & release of LW) in such rapid fashion and so late into the pre-season. My concerns are slightly different than wondering what we will miss by getting rid of LW: - How adequate will AVP be as an OC ? How much time will he need to get his offense clicking ? Is he truly an OC or just a pass play caller ? Finally, when do we know if he has the chops to cut it as a coordinator ? - What do we do about the lack of depth on the OL ?

Considering the current turmoil within the Bills, it won't be much of a statement.

If this was just a money move, in that LW was making too much money to play RT, couldn't his contract have been re-structured ? Or was the FO giving LW a chance to test the waters and sign him back if he didn't get any offers ? If this was not a money move, then perhaps there is a plan to bring in Runyan or trade for someone ? In either case, things will become clear in the next few days. I certainly hope the answer is not 'none of the above' as then we are woefully low on depth.

On a limerick roll are we ?

Reading Sully's notes, it just seems like he has taken this opportunity to do a blanket bashing of the Bills. While I agree the O looked like a mess in the pre-season, I think there are several bright spots. We cannot ignore them. e.g. Rush D looked good, Maybin made some plays despite missing a majority of TC, our secondary looks good. Bad offensive line ? How can you make a judgment of that so early ? He could have called it inexperienced and unproven, but bad ? I think our ST and D are good enough for the playoffs. The biggest question was and still is, about the O. Better late than never with the firing of Schonert. I rather go through the pains now than either have this happen half way or not at all till the season ended.

I agree with you to an extent. Previously, I was in the no-way-Jose camp regarding Marty. In the last few years we experimented with ex-coordinators as our HC. As that didn't work out, we got an ex-HCs, albeit a loser. Given our track record since the late 90s, I don't think we can afford to try any coordinator as our next HC. That leaves current or retired HCs. Of them, I think Cowher is over rated and Gruden is an idiot. That leaves Shanny and Marty, who I would take in that order. Was Shanny a winner because of Elway only? I am not sure, but his track record is certainly enviable. His style is to build an O based on the run - which will suit us just fine. I kinda veered off there - what I started off intending to say is that I have lowered expectations to the point where even Marty sounds acceptable. And Deano, as an aside, Steely Dan was terrific last night in Chicago playing Royal Scam.

Welcome to the board. A couple of quick suggestions: (1) Use the search function for related topics - plenty of discussion about Cowher (2) Spell Cowher correctly

Yeah got the Bills text which was cryptic as usual - Fitz to start at QB and Rhodes as RB.

Thats all I need to know. Get him, Russ. Signed, DJ

I am glad to see that DJ actively reads TBD and heeds our advice: http://www.democratandchronicle.com/articl...3/909030342/tbd " ...Jauron feels it's more important to avoid risking potential injury, and to concentrate on watching the reserves play "

Look at it this way, getting some good backups will eliminate an excuse for DJ if Trent were to get injured or performs miserably.

Given the QB situation as it stands right now, I would take the risk of giving them a 5th rounder. I know all it will do is give us two #2s (Fitz, Tarvaris) but so be it. I rather have a double back-up given Trent's struggles since the second half of last season and his history of injury. Also, we don't know for sure if the Vikings are asking for a 5th rounder. As I don't see a bidding war for his services, I am sure we can get the deal done for an even lower pick.

Is he better than Hamdan ? Probably yes as Tarvaris has starter experience. If it is a cheap deal (i.e. low draft pick), I would get him and let the coaches decide who among Fitz & Jackson is the # 2.

Pros of getting Marshall & trading Reed+Parrish: - Big weapon on offense - Makes Bills WR corps one of the best in the league, if not THE best Cons: - History of immature behavior - Will split time with 2 top WRs (TO, Evans) so individual value diminished + possibility of making all three unhappy - TE inconsistency may not get full value of having him in the O - We lose Reed, a proven slot receiver. Who replaces him ? - We lose Parrish, a proven returner. Who replaces his production ? Balancing all the above points, I think we do not make the trade as proposed. Maybe for a 2nd or 3rd rounder next year may compensate for the first 3 'cons' above.

Thanx for stopping by and contributing your profound prognostication to this board

Confidence in Nic Harris ? Expecting a LB to be cut from another team? Moving Maybin to LB ?

And under 'Five Guys I hope rebound': Dick Jauron "He must win, and he must win now. Say a prayer for him. He deserves a lot better. "

If we win, then the Lions will not have gameplanned for us and would have played a vanilla D and O. In short, we would still suck.