The Big Cat

Wrong, huh? Okay. Says you. Not going to bother arguing with you about this.

This team with Brady would have won 10 games by now.

...and because they're not as talented as Tyler. The next media professional who willfully declines upward mobility would be the first.

How I imagine your PM inbox now that you've indicated having a personal relationship with the Bills GM:

In their defense, they have access and contacts which--if they're doing their jobs right--actually do provide significantly more "knowledge" as to what's going on than any of us can claim. That said, listening to Vic on his latest podcast bash his own report about the Pegula ultimatum, acknowledge that he was bashing his own report, then make a point to declare that he still stands by his report...now that was something special. To imply that they're building a narrative, however, that's giving them far too much credit. They're too busy to be anything but reactionary. That's why reports like these are, in fact, a useful barometer of what's happening during the non-Sunday-football hours. They're reporting what they see/hear/feel. The accuracy of it or the reliability of their analysis can be questioned, of course. But it's what they're experiencing. Can't help but feel like there's a bit too much hit miss and by golly going on right now at some level of the organization.

Again...you're not pointing to a single measurement of three and outs in bunches. That's the key difference.

then do one yourself

Oh. Wow. Look who started a thread to B word about something then promptly bounced.

Because--AGAIN--it matters less how many you have and is much more of a factor when you string them together. What about this is confusing? If only somebody linked to a break down. If only there was a link to that.

My hip hurts! When does Jeopardy come on!? I take my coffee at room temperature, damn it!! Water is wet and Yeezus has more negative things to say about the Buffalo Bills. With fans like these...

Firstly, it didn't go three and out with the same frequency, that's measurably false. Secondly, as it pertains to moi, I have only brought up three and outs because the TT offense strings them together. Two teams can go three and out four times in a game. The team that does it once a quarter does its defense way less harm than the team that does it four times in a row, which is what TT does and what I have been saying for more than a year now. In fact, we've been over this before. You and me. In great detail: http://forums.twobillsdrive.com/topic/189691-bills-defense-average-after-all-the-changes-corrected/?view=findpost&p=4111994

What does this have to do with anything that's been discussed today? And also are you meaning to suggest that an offense that can move and control the ball has a positive effect on the defense? Hmmm... How come McKelvin sucks this year under Schwartz?

10th in total yards under Pettine, yes. But again: 20th in scoring and 10 losses that season due in no small measure to being ranked 28th in rushing yards allowed. So, arrow up...MAY BE. That said, last night I was wondering about a Pettine/Rex reunion with Thurman out the door. Seems like Rex's defenses have taken a dip since Pettine was removed from the equation. No chance he fires his bro.

Well, then define "consistent." You mean "consistently losing about half of their games?" Yes, that is true. In fact, it's insane that they've been able to maintain that level of consistency for the entirety of the drought, never once getting enough lucky bounces to eek out a playoff berth (Chiefs) or on the flip side, getting just enough lucky bounces to lose 5-10 draft spots by winning 6-8 games in stead of 3-5.

it should also be noted that it's utterly baffling that fans have convinced themselves that the duties and objectives of an organization's PRESIDENT should be completely removed in every way from operations.

What the hell is that supposed to mean?

Dude. We're at 6 wins. We still have to play the Browns. Draft picks outside the top 3 are invariably "****ty." Get over it. We're getting a "****ty" draft pick.

And if the "problem" is being a defense that will probably finish somewhere 9-15 this year, then I don't disagree. I think we just differ on how big of a "problem" that is. And yeah, may be he shouldn't have promised a 1 defense, but get over it, ladies. Sometimes Rex says some **** into a microphone. Welcome to Earth. If the "problem" is that we finished 4 two years ago (having finished 22 and 26 the two years prior), then I don't know what to tell you. If that was your expectation, I think I've exhausted all avenues for explaining why that expectation is/was/will forever be faulty. This defense needs playmakers on the back end, period. Eric Berry has single-handedly won what? three games for the Chiefs so far this year? In this league, they change the complexion and the outcome of contests and we have none. This is not an excuse, it's an observation, and no one here can deny it.

As we've been over a million times now, the 2014 stayed freakishly healthy. It was talked about even before the 2015 season. Analysts from PFF (I think? May be Football Outsiders) were on the John Murphy show in the off season before 2015 saying that their data showed regardless of who the coach was (by then we knew it was Rex), the defense should have been expected to slide because the 2014 injury rate (or lack there of) was both unprecedented and completely unsustainable. Having said that, there's no denying how dominant they were, and especially how punishing they were. I think we went on like a seven week streak wherein we injured opposing team's quarterbacks. No doubt that was due in large part to Jim Schwartz being one hell of a defensive coach and running a scheme that was tailor made for personnel that is mostly talented up front. There's no denying any of this. But you also can't deny that the success of his scheme benefitted tremendously by all (literally all) those key pieces staying healthy. Now, to the detriment of this conversation, and of just about any conversation about professional football in general, we have a very very small sample size from which to draw conclusions. In 2014, the worst game the defense played (by far) was at home against New England. That was the only game AW missed that season. Flash forward to 2015-16 in a system which is much more dependent on the back-end of the defense, and by the looks of this year alone, AW's absence has had a severe impact on the defense efficacy. Is there really anyone who's denying this? It sucks because he should probably hang it up for good after this season, and that will leave us with a giant hole in the secondary in the form of BOTH safety positions, but that's another topic for another day. But to say that the Bills defense, under Jim Schwartz, Rex Ryan, Wade Phillips or anybody else was destined to repeat the performance of 2014 is utter nonsense. It simply wasn't. They have regressed. Because of injuries? Surely. Because of scheme? Probably. Because they've played better QB's? Perhaps. The Rex Sux crowd likes to sneer and ask how many first rounders does his defense need? How many playmakers does Pete Carrol's defense need? Who is our Richard Sherman? Earl Thomas? Cam Chancellor? Michael Bennet? Bobby Wagner? Then, on the flipside, how many playmakers did Schwartz get? Answer: more than Rex. His stayed in the lineup the entire time. I don't know what the solution is moving forward, but this incessant pining for 2014 manages to grow more pointless as the weeks go on. On a side but tangential note: anybody else notice that the Schwartz's Philly defense and their rookie quarterback both hit a skid around the same time?? Hmmm...

No. And if that was your takeaway then we have confirmation on a couple of things.

they will be

That's twice now, based solely on your gut, a whim and a finger in the air that you've downplayed AW's presence under any coach in any scheme. Unfortunately, any/all actual evidence would suggest otherwise. But whatever, let's keep pretending there was some kind of pre-Rex legacy that he demolished on defense, that the 2014 defense wasn't a fluke in hindsight, let's ignore the fact that we haven't had a back end play maker since Byrd's rookie year, and let's keep demanding new coaches every 36 months. It's worked great so far.

Right, the only game he missed was the track meet New England ran in RWS. So, yeah. Not that important then either.

FTFY

Do we get all the same players and none of the injuries too?