JohnC

I am both a hedger and cautious. And I am proud of my equivocating stance. My motto is :When in doubt just say maybe!

I don't understand some of the negative views on Gilmore. I consider him not only our best CB but I rank him very high at his position league wide. The no touch rules applied to the defensive backfield make it (next to qb) the most challenging position to play. A major difference in this game that contributed to the win is how our CBs (including McKelvin) played compared to Miami's CBs. The way the league strictly enforces the holding and PI rules make the games very difficult to watch. It kills the flow and continuity of the game. The accumulation of penalties is becoming an irritating problem. When you get a reputation for clutching and grabbing you are not going to get the benefit of the doubt.

I want to make it clear that no one has to be defensive about pointing out areas where this particular qb or any prospect has to improve on. So I hope you didn't take my response as a criticism to your reasonable comments. No one can definitively make a clam that TT is going to be a resounding success or a failure. It simply is too early in the process. However, what I and Kelly and others are referencing is that there are essential elements to his game that make one cautiously optimistic that he will be at the minimum a legitimate franchise qb. He has the arm, accuracy and touch. His ball placement is impeccable. Compare that to EJ who frequently jeopardizes the health and well-being of his receivers when he throws to them? There is no doubt that TT is still learning how to get comfortable in the pocket and go through his progressions. However, because he possesses good speed and quickness he can elude the pass rush, keep his eyes down field and make the throw. You can't teach that reaction. You either have the feel or you don't. Are the Bills a wild-card playoff team? I have my doubts. What is more important for me is determining this year whether TT is going to be our established franchise qb. Until that question is answered and until we get that position locked down this franchise is going to be a middling franchise.

Avoid the Buffalo cold winter blast!

What is striking about watching TT play is the difference it makes for a team to have competent qb play. It's a difficult as a fan to digest the product on the field when the qbing is inadequate. As a starter TT is very inexperienced. What we know at this early stage of his development (aware that he has been in the league for 4 yrs.) is that he is an accurate passer, has a good arm and has a good touch. What is also apparent (at this early stage) is that he has a feel for the game. Whether a qb is experienced or not it quickly becomes evident to evaluators whether the qb has the required feel for the game to have a chance to be successful. He has it. Manuel (for me) doesn't have the "it" factor. He is simply too mechanical and lacks the fluidity to make the necessary adjustments on the fly. I have no problem with people being skeptical about TT's prospects as a franchise qb. It's understandable after going through so many candidates who didn't meet the standard. But what TT does for us at even this early stage of his starting career is give this team a chance to be successful. I haven't had the sensation for a very long time.

You are right that his playbook is rather simplified. That is the right way to handle him at this point. You build off the basics. Roman is being smart in putting him in a position to succeed by not (at this point) expanding what he is required to do. The more he plays the more teams will adjust to what he is currently doing. Then he will be asked (required) to do more, especially in going through his progressions. You are correct that he is not a finished product and that it can't be assumed that he is capable of taking the next step up. No one knows for sure that he will develop into a legitimate long term franchise qb. What is apparent is that he has the tools and the feel for the game that lends one to believe that he can handle the starting job. As you well stated he is still a work in progress with no guarantees that it will work out. As a Buffalo Bill fan I am starving for competent qb play. I am cautiouslyoptimistic.

The two players who made an impression on me in this game who don't fall in the category of play makers were Incognito and McKelvin. If anyone wants to make a clinic tape for guards he should be the model player. Not only is he our best offensive lineman by far he is also one of the best guards in the league. Miller got abused in pass protection but he and Incognito are both excellent pulling guards. I have to give McKelvin a lot of credit for playing so effectively after being out for so long. Even on the plays when he was covering a receiver who caught a pass he was usually in good position. He got right back into the action without exhibiting any rust. That was quite impressive.

Without even examining the stats what is noticeable when TT is taking the snaps is that when a receiver is open not only is there a good probability that the pass is going to be completed but that his ball placement is also excellent. He is still a work in progress but he has a good feel for the passing game and he is getting better in being smart about when to run and when to hit the deck and protect himself. This is an immensely much better and serious team when he is the starter.

You and I have different eyes when we watch Gilmore. Overall, I thought he played solidly. The way the rules are established to promote the passing game and give the receivers unfettered space I thought he played well. I thought that McKelivin was a very positive contributor. Gilmore, Darby and McKelvin were an impressive backfield trio. As you noted Karlos Watkins is a terrific addition. When he is out of the lineup it is very noticeable. His combination of power and speed create havoc for defenses. What is most impressive about his running style is that he runs north/south and he quickly hits the hole. If he needs to adjust to find the open lane he does it quickly without having to dance. The Watkins/McCoy combo was smartly used in this game. Reminds me a little of the Thurman Thomas and Ked Davis tandem. I'm not sure if it is the scheme or if Mario is just being careful of protecting the flank but he isn't the same player he was last year. I thought our LBs took a lot of bad angles and allowed basic plays to turn into big plays. What I find very disturbing is the number of penalties. We got away with a blatant holding call by Miller on Suh on one of Watkins long TD passes. The referee made a bad call when Suh had Taylor in the grasp and allowed the play to continue. Tyrod Taylor didn't throw too much in this game. What is evident is that he throws a nice long ball and that he is an accurate passer. Determining whether he can be our long sought franchise qb is the most important issue facing this franchise.

The players you listed is an indictment on the foolishness of a stupid organization. These players didn't prematurely leave the Bills because they cashed out. They should never been acquired at their respective excessive prices. This backwater franchise was incapable of functioning as a sustaining competitive franchise. It went for the short-term fix for marketing reasons.

Second round. In his freshman year under O'Brien he was very impressive. For the past couple of years his OL has been porous and the scheme under the new HC doesn't fit him. I have seen him a couple of times this year and he is a shadow of what he was or promised to be.

Orton simply wanted to retire. He had a long career and was done with the business. Prior to going to Buffalo he had an opportunity to sign with the Cowboys. He declined it although it was for an attractive salary. Brad Butler had a nagging knee injury and simply didn't want to play a sport in which there were great risks for permanent physical damage. Butler was a University of Virginia graduate and he had political and public policy interests that were greater than his interest in football.

You include Harvin to fit in with your narrative that he is leaving early because he is not willing to "stretch" himself because he is playing on a losing team and in a non-glamorous location. Your position makes no sense and is inconsistent with the facts. Percy Harvin is hurt. He has a variety of ailments, hip, knee and issues with migraines that probably will follow him when he retires. He had an incentive to continue on $$$$$ but is so plagued with health problems that he can't continue on. There is no doubt that in his long career with the Bills Aaron Schobel was frustrated that he didn't play on a good team. He retired after a very long career. I don't recall any other team being interested in him. Schobel lived in Texas and played football because it was a financially rewarding career. He had a long career and was ready to leave the endeavor to back back to the ranch. Your thesis sounds interesting but in reality the facts don't match your theory.

I like Tyrod Taylor. Is he a top 6 qb? Wow! You take being a homer to an other worldly level. Please sober up.

When O'Brien left the Penn St program it had a tremendous affect on Hack. When I watched him in his freshman year I thought he was the next coming of Brady. Coaching matters! What has also hindered Hackenberg is that for the past couple of years he has been playing behind a very bad OL. When you watch him now it's obvious that at times he is gun shy. I watched a game he played in a week or so ago. He made some beautiful pro passes and he also made some atrocious throws. Would I take a chance on him? Yes.

For an OC when you watch game tapes you see plays that develop and are there for the qb to react to. The problem with these athletic read option qbs is that because of how they played in college they never learned to go through the progressions.It has to be frustrating for the coaches.

You bring up a fascinating issue, intended or not. Are qbs such as Kaepernick and RG III suitable for the pro game? Can a qb with outstanding physical abilities survive in the pro game after being groomed in college to play in the spread and the read option. Both Kaepernick and RG III were early successes. RG III had a phenomenal rookie year. But his style of play left him vulnerable to being hit. It didn't take long for defenses to come up with a strategy to counteract his athleticism and running ability. It was hit him, and keep hitting him until it took a toll on his body. The critical issue for each player is the same: Can they learn to read defenses and go through their progressions. RG III who is a smart guy can't seem to master that challenge. For both players the run instinct has to be subordinated to going through one's progressions and trusting what you see and quickly reacting to it. There are qbs who have a feel for the pocket and are instinctual in their movements. Tom Brady is the best in that regard. Some qbs will never master the art of being calm in a chaotic pocket. But that doesn't mean that they can't improve their deficiency to an acceptable level. If the Bills are interested in Kaepernick the most influential person in deciding to acquire him would be Greg Roman. He would know as well as anyone whether his liabilities as a player can be minimized and his assets can be maximized. I like Tyrod Taylor a lot. He does have some appealing traits in his passing ability: accuracy, arm strength and touch. But I fear that he has durability issues that require the organization to have a backup plan.

Art Modell's moving the team for financial reasons resulted in him being ostracized from a city he was long associated with. When he sealed the deal to move his franchise he must have known in advance that he could never go back to Ohio. I'm not overly sympathetic toward him but the issue wasn't as simple as many people believe it to be. I was never a fan of Ralph Wilson as an owner. But to his credit this Detroit product was loyal to western NY and made arrangements that led to keeping the franchise in the region. Ralph Wilson has a statue at the stadium and will be fondly remembered. After he died their was a memorial at the practice facility. The well wishers packed the cavernous facility. Art Modell is going to be remembered as someone who moved the beloved team for greener pastures. His business decision will never be forgotten and forgiven in Ohio. http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/bs-sp-schmuck-column-1106-20151105-column.html

RG III was a tour de force at Baylor. He is also a tremendous athlete who possessed incredible speed. He has a great arm and he is accurate. But in the pro ranks he is totally befuddled. He simply can't read pro defenses and hasn't to this point developed a feel for the pocket. RG III is very smart in an academic sense but he has little instinct (so far) for the pro qb position. There are some diva personality traits that have hindered him in the pro game but his main problem is he simply hasn't exhibited the processing ability that is an absolute necessity to play in the pro ranks. He is the type of person who elicits both a pro and anti lightning rod response. I would love to see a coach who is creative enough to manage his assets and liabilities and adapt it to the pro game. It certainly won't happen in Washington but maybe an organization and HC that is courageous enough to think outside of the box (Kelly) will be able to utilize his unique skills.

I don't see Harvin or Goodwin on the roster next year. The durability issue is too obvious to ignore. It's a shame but it's an important consideration when investing in a player.

If the Bills are in position to draft one of the top three qbs I would be content. Lynch/Goff/Cook are all worthy qb prospects to be interested in.

I respectfully disagree. The Bills needed RI as much as he wanted an opportunity to get back into the league. I'm not convinced that Rex was the main force behind his signing. I think it was Whaley because he desperately wanted to upgrade both guard positions. Also, Whaley has demonstrated that he is not shy in signing players who have had a troubled history ala Henderson and Harvin. Without a doubt if Whaley was interested in Incognito he would have consulted with Rex before making the deal. That's how he operates. RI does appreciate that the Bills gave him an opportunity when most other franchises weren't willing to give him a chance. Has he paid the team back? Absolutely! He has done it with his outstanding performance. He is not only our best lineman but he has also been one of the best guards in the league. Not only has he played well he has also conducted himself in a professional manner on and off the field. Through his own hard work and perseverance he has put himself in a position to capitalize on it. This is probably his last chance to get a big contract with guaranteed money. The Bills will have an opportunity to sign him as will the other teams that are willing to bid on his services. Because of the unscrupulous way the league handled the controversy in Miami they "stole" money from him. After this season is over he will be in a position to make up for some of the monetary loss he was forced to take. RI is smart enough to know that he is working in a cold-blooded business. His first consideration is to act in his own best interest. The same way organizations and other players behave.

I agree with you. It is better to go for the mid-level value free agent pickup over the big splash high cost acquisition. As you stated the key is to draft well and develop. However, no matter what approach a franchise takes there is little chance for success unless you have a legitimate starting qb taking the snaps. A team is spinning its wheels trying to get by without an authentic starting caliber of qb.

The life span for a a pro football player is very limited, without factoring in cutting it even shorter by injury. Not only did he lose a year of salary but he lost an opportunity to get a richer contract sooner rather than later. It was the league that succumbed to perceived public pressure that was raised even more by a fraudulent Wells report that didn't reflect the facts of the case. My point being is that he was victimized by a league acting without integrity. He being made a scapegoat was very much a business decision to protect its interests. The above quote is my point! He should never have been an extraordinary reclamation project because he was unfairly set up to be a reclamation project. If the league would have done an honest investigation reflecting the real facts of the case he wouldn't have been wrongly described as a brutal neanderthal. He lost a year's worth of wages and then when he came back he was only able to get an under-valued contract. The only person/s he needs to look out for is himself and his family. It's a business. I'm very confident that he is aware of that cold-blooded fact. And he should act accordingly.

Most often teams that poorly manage their cap from a talent/value standpoint lose out on available outside talent that could help improve the roster. There are two sides to the coin: keeping your talent and being in position to acquire new talent.