The Big Cat

What's your point?

Neglecting the OL by making Glenn and Incognito priorities? Yes. Do you really think the line has been a problem this year? I agree it hasn't been perfect, specifically in pass blocking, but on the list of troubled units, they certainly don't crack the top five. And I agree that they should draft a QB in rounds 2-4. But as I've said with Tyrod all season, he hasn't done anything to indicate that improvement is impossible. He doesn't seem to have impenetrable barriers, from what I've seen--his height not withstanding.

That's exactly what I'm telling you. It's what many others on this board and elsewhere are telling you too. Your choice to not believe me/them is precisely that.

Yes. Personnel upgrades that I trust Whaley to make, but none more important that S and LB's.

I don't agree with a lot of what you've said. But I have a hard time evaluating Rex the HC without thinking of the comedy of errors that Sanchez/Geno/Vick were for his offenses and that by hiring Greg Roman and by getting his boy Tyrod, he seems to have learned from those mistakes. I think the other points you've made about his defenses are backwards compatible to make your point and really not that applicable to the flashes of "getting it" we saw this year nor what we've seen from him in years-past, which apparent this fanbase can't agree on. Also, i don't think that him having his guys is as critique-worthy as it's made out to be.

Last year's defense missed 13 starts. They've tripled that this year and Spikes isn't around to hide how terrible Brown is when he gets too close to the LOS. It's not the same team. And when the team was bought in, Rex's scheme has worked this year.

I've had this exact thought. I believe you and I will be vindicated 12 months from now when it becomes clear. The Jets have had gotten A LOT of luck this year, not least of which was losing their starting QB in a locker room fight. Folks. GENO SMITH WAS THEIR STARTER. Fitz over Geno alone is worth four wins. And that's not an exaggeration. No, it has a lot to do with TALENT, specifically on defense. The Bills' front seven is TREMENDOUSLY hamstrung by lousy LB's. And as much as Bills fans want to sweat our defensive line, theirs has been just as good and played to billing this year. Funny, they played well last year too when Rex was there...hmmm. The difference is the Jets went from 28th in points to 10th. THAT'S the difference. Fitz has had a year unlike any other year he's ever had, and that's do in large part to Brandon Marshal. What you're seeing this year is what could have happened in Buffalo if Chan could have found a DC to do...anything in 2011 and 2012 AND if everything trends their way. So if you think that a Ryan Fitzpatrick-led offense is poised to finish top-10 consistently, by all means. As a Bills fan, you should know the Fitz market has a tendency to normalize and more than likely that pendulum will swing back next year...because they're not that good.

Whaley said today that defense will be the focus and that last year offense was. He's also said that they won't make a splash in FA, but this morning he sounded confident in his ability to get Rex the guys he needs. I think that LB and S are our two biggest needs and that NT may be included in that, if it's what RR wants. I think RT comes in a distant fourth, followed by WR2, followed by QB. But I think those defenses pieces (as many as 5) will be the priority.

They're a tough matchup for the Steelers. I don't know why, but being from WPA, I assure you that 90% of my friends will tell you it's because Harbaugh has Tomlin's number. Does that make them a better team? May be. Probably not. But if the Bills beat NYJ on Sunday, you can't just dismiss a season sweep.

How's this: Buffalo and New York are both good teams. One got more bounces than the other this year, and that's been the difference. The original assertion was that they're not THAT much better, let alone 3 games better. I agree with that. I wouldn't trade the Bills roster for the Jets. No way. No how.

Winning 5 of the last 6 might suggest they are.

And as we already talked about, both 2014 Jets CB's are out of a job...for a reason. I brought it up to call BS on the point you made by making **** up. I thought I was pretty clear about that.

So then we can't rely on anything we've been told? Well, that's an argument against 99% of discussion. I agree that they're used differently, and that logic would dictate that since they were used optimally last year, that it's in some way a misuse this year. But the entirety of Schwartz's scheme was flawed and the 2014 performance benefitted tremendously from health. Kyle Williams missing a substantial chunk of the season and Mario Williams removing himself from the formula makes a for a disappointing incomplete from the unit, IMO. You're entitled to your skepticism. But don't treat it as a a certainty, as you have been. I'm not certain it will happen. But enough has happened to convince me it could.

You do? I remember the entire fanbase being apoplectic for the offense doing jack **** in the first matchup because they were playing with a lead...that was given to them by SIX TURNOVERS, three of which happened on the first four possessions. Sammy had two long catches in that game that accounted for 145 of their net 210 yards. THAT'S A TORCHING!? You can't make your point by just making **** up.

What the hell are you talking about in line one? It worked once in five years? So that makes your point? Schwartz was in a perfect situation to run his scheme which relies on the big uglies up front. When he has those, he does alright. Where were you last offseason when Whaley was charged with addressing the offense and found a starting QB, all three RB's, a WR2, one of the league's most dynamic TE's, a FB and guards on either side of center? You don't have faith in him finding/plugging personnel? Sounds like you're ignoring history...again.

What does any of this have to do with the non-performance he's cashed-in in 2015? I could dispute what you've said about him, but what you've said has nothing to do with what he's done this year. He couldn't even muster an assisted tackle Sunday, in a win, with the opposition only scoring 6 points. If you're a top 2 DE...top 5 DE...top 20 DE, that never happens. Rex's record as a HC in New York was woefully impacted by his inability to field a competent offense. Would you agree with this point? And if yes, do you see the same thing happening here? And if not, why do you have no faith that he'll do what he has done on defense?

Because last year was a completely different situation. There were no firings. The HC quit and the DC (who had a LOUSY track record as a HC) was offered to stay and he did not. It was a disruption to continuity that was 100% involuntary and nothing at all like what the fans on this message board who think (wrongly) that they're in the majority of fans want. For your last sentence, you're summarily wrong. It's not even worth arguing anymore.

This is a bizarre point. You're comparing apples and oranges, but you're not even giving the oranges a fair crack. Eliminating this season, with both guys having 10 years in the league, Rex Ryan had top-10 defenses every year but one. And they were 11 that year. I think we're talking about Rex's ability to coach a defense in this discussion, so let's not ignore the consistent success he's had. Mario Williams has been many things, consistent isn't among them.

I'm not suggesting this defense would have benefitted from Spikes, I'm saying you can't ignore the enormous impact he had last year, and that his absence has exposed the weaknesses in Brown and Bradham that were hidden last year--this is to counter the idea that scheme is to blame for their drop in production. It might be. But mostly because they can't play it. I won't argue that Rex's scheme isn't complex and that this team hasn't had a helluva time learning it, but sorry, two other teams had a fine time learning it. We talk about Spikes masking weaknesses last year. That was supposed to be David Harris' job this year. I think that the Clay deal out-leveraged us here, and that's why we failed to bring him in, but Whaley said this morning that last year's offseason was about strengthening the offense: mission accomplished. Rex's scheme sucked in week 2. But it didn't the next time they played him with a Kyle and Aaron Williams both out. So does Rex get credit, or doesn't he?

No, they disappeared in three quarters in week two. That's been my point. I don't get it. And also, I'm the last person you want to mention Jauron to. That man did more with zero talent than could ever be explained.

92% of snaps and not a single stat recorded. Is he good or isn't he? Because good players at the very least find a way to get an assisted tackle. That was too tall of an order for Mario. How you can say it's the system and not him, I'll never know. I guess you can argue it's the system, since Mario clearly doesn't like it. But it's Mario's choice to play like a worthless ass.

Well, if you think 6 DC's in as many years and overhauling a system again is the way to go and that it's easier to do that than find players to match the one you got, well then I've got nothing to add since you're plainly ignoring anything that's happened in the NFL over the last 50 years. Go ahead and consider yourself bashed by history. You can blame it on me if you like (you like to do that so much). But it's really not about me.

Pittsburgh has lost 5 of their last 6 to Baltimore. Same HC's in each of those matchups. What's your point?

You're right, the devil is in those details. And one of those details is defensive players not making plays. Whiffing on tackles, blowing coverages, taking terrible angles. THOSE are the details that we can have the chicken v egg argument about. But they've got nothing to do with scheme. Losing Spikes and Aaron Williams exposed flaws in many players. Losing Kyle Williams to injury and losing Mario Williams to himself blows a gaping 50% hole in this d-line that everyone wants to insist has been neutered by the coaches. So, again, I come back to what the hell happened to a team that flew to the ball and played like they wanted to rip off their opponents' heads to one that did not. Rex said so himself after the WAS game. I thought it was one of his most telling quotes of the year saying players can't be afraid to attack the ball. And our team looks like they are! Watch the Arizona players. They want to HURT the other guy. The Bills defense played this way last year. And Rex Ryan defenses have ALWAYS played this way. And they did in week one. Connecting the dot to Rex ignores every speck of history we have. And that's where the confusion lies on my end.

Every? Okay.