finknottle

I think it's like a child throwing a temper tantrum over a toy. They wanted so badly for JP to be some instant magic star. Well, he's not, and the team still has a job to do. So when the team makes a move, disappointment over JP is transfered to anger at the front office for making official the fact that their shiny new toy isn't cutting it. Anger turns to exaggerated despair. Things were WAY, WAY worse at SEVERAL periods in the history of this francise. And I agree, in 2003 we had nothing. Zip. Nada. I am the antithesis of a Bills cheerleader, but to say that this is a particularly hopeless period is IMO laughable. We're not as good as most posters think (depending on their weekly mood swings), but we've got plenty of good things going for us.

Thanks - very interesting. And soboring. The question suggests itself of how their supporting casts and time with the clipboard compared to his. IMO they had far worse in the skill positions but somewhat better help on the OL.

Why are people trashing Moulds so much? Seems I hear a lot of 'He should be helping JP, he only catching 10 yards a game, he has no right to speak for the team...' As I understand it Evans is saying the same thing, and has almost the identical disappointing production... I realize Moulds costs too much and will be out of here after this year, but I don't see how we can criticize one if not the other. Indeed, if anything, Moulds should be ok for speaking up and it should be the younger players people are trashing.

That sounds like a recipe for not winning the Superbowl. Despite the fact that winning teams have disporportionately many rushing attempts compared to their ideal mix (because they are usually ahead and working the clock in the second half instead of airing it out in a comeback attempt), over the last four years the team with the most rushes has failed to even get to the Superbowl. (I assume Baltimore had the most in '00, but couldn't get those stats). '04 #6 NE over #31 Phil '03 #12 NE over #3 Car '02 #25 TB over #23 Oak '01 #9 NE over #23 StL

You sound like the kind of partisan wacko they like - 'I don't like party x, so it isn't really spying' is always a convenient rationalization for treason. Based on what I read on abcnews.com, the guy had a top secret clearance with polygraphs when he was recruited.

See new thread. Almost all winning teams so far this year gain dispoportionatly many of their passing yards early in the game, while their running yards are more evenly distributed. If you want a simple example, the Eagles have passed for 329 yards in the first quarter whereas Westbrook has only 15 first quarter yards. Even Pittsburgh has gained more than 4 times as many 1q yards in the air than on the ground, with the passing yards dropping and the rushing yards doubling in successive quarters.

In another thread, I argued that if you establish an effective passing attack in the first half, then even if you are behind you can run effectively in the second, since they still have to play the pass. On the other hand, if you run effectively in the first half but still fall behind, it doesn't help because they'll still defend pass first. In other words, I would argue that the winning strategy is pass first well, and then watch the running yards later in the game; to which the following was offered: So I took all the teams with winning records and looked at the ratio of yards through the air to the ground: 4.33 3.55 2.19 1.77 Bengals 4-0 2.26 2.66 1.52 2.11 Colts 4-0 2.34 2.89 3.55 .22 Bucs 4-0 .40 .86 14.10 47.25 Redskins 3-0 1.35 3.58 1.29 2.38 Broncos 3-1 3.93 2.77 3.14 2.17 Giants 3-1 21.93 2.19 5.95 38.78 Eagles 3-1 1.93 .52 .99 .46 Falcons 3-1 5.78 6.82 1.76 1.73 Dolphins 3-1 4.57 2.09 .86 2.30 Steelers 3-1 ---------------------- 2.49 .77 .95 .89 Bills 1-3 To me these numbers - or more particularly, their trends - argue that the winning teams now play pass first to set up a closing running game rather than run first to set up the pass. The anomoly here is the Redskins, which are playing run-first, and poorly, relying on big 4th quarter passing to come back.

Passing effectively in the first half sets you up for big running numbers in the second half, even if you fall behind, because they're playing the pass. Running effectively in the first half doesn't help you if you're behind, because they'll still play the pass. It's no accident that most running yards are gained by the winning team in the second half (see Saints). Put another way, the pass sets up the run. The run sets up the punt.

I was with you till there...

He is establishing the run so that Losman is facing a defense looking to stop the run first. That is the best position for him to be in if you want him to develop as a QB. If you don't care about developing him and all you want is somebody to hand off to WM, you might as well have kept Bledsoe.

Not so fast. I sense a trade of our #1 for Patrick Ramsey in the works. And if we can pick up Shaun King, we'll have cornered the market on the Green Wave!

Not while Jeff George is available! Besides, Losman is worth at least a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd!

Last years vaunted #2 defense was actually #13 in stopping 3rd down conversions, something which shouldn't surprise us given the number of painfull late drives we gave up last year. So, yeah, we've been served the #2 cool-aid for a number of years now, but it doesn't mask the bitter taste of crunch-time mediocracy.

Ok, make him #3 then. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out how to make him better without starting him yet. Along those lines, do you think guys like Preston are just sitting around twiddling their thumbs, and will be no better when they finally start than they are now?

You don't run to win. You run to keep them honest, and to set up the pass. We're running well. Instead of running more, we should be taking advantage of it by hitting the passes. This IMO is why we see more passing called in the second half, and this IMO is where JP needs to step up. He has the credible rb threat. If he is going to develop as a qb he needs at a minimum to learn to pass on a defense respecting the run, and until he can do this we will go nowhere. (I'm not putting it all on him vice the OL; merely differing with the conclusion that more running is called for.)

So... you're saying that he wouldn't learn anything with a full year as the #2 quarterback? I mean actual #2, getting practice time, not sitting around in cast. Was his Wonderlic score that bad? Are you calling him an idiot or something, incapable of learning or improving unless he's on the field? Frankly, a season of this and his ability to lead the other players may be irrecovably shot.

Ummm, better make that a 5 year plan. We're 40% of the way there.

How about a magic eight ball? At least that should get us to .500

This isn't the 80's. Or even the 90's. You can't win just running. Passing, yes, it's possible. Running, no. Just look around at the teams putting it all on the shoulders of a stud back: the Jets. The Ravens. Chicago. Even run-first teams with good supporting casts like the Chargers are struggling.

All right, something to shoot for!

Yeah, I would think that he more than anybody else would be a good sidelined motivator. But then again, for all I know he could be one of these great players who loses all interest if he's not involved. Anybody know anything about his cheerleading?

What are the stats for Wade with Fluties versus without?

I fear what this board will become if we win. Break out the bandwagon!!!

Yes. And next year he'll get to use the 'Salary-Cap Jail' excuse again when he explains why we cut/lose Moulds, Clement, Williams, ...

And don't forget the Ruben Brown factor - ie, the inherent goofiness and laziness of the pro bowl selection process. In the case of Dallas, I would argue that they and other notorious or large market teams get more pro bowl selections, just for who they are. (I do think their O-line is better; I just don't buy into this idea that it is all-pro.)