BillsVet

I really don't understand why the media must validate or affirm an individual fan's opinion. Who cares what any of them say? It cannot ruin the fact that Buffalo is coming to terms with Rex Ryan to be their next HC.

Jimmy Sexton did a number on Brandon, as Eugene Parker has done as well. While Russ may talk a nice game for the fans, he doesn't have the experience to deal with sport agents. The results bear that out. And we see what Sexton has been up to lately with Marrone, although the NYC media has quickly thrown a wet blanket over that. I think Marrone is more a product of his agent than actually a top candidate for a HC position. And I think the same holds true back in 2013 when Sexton manufactured this image of a highly in-demand coach who in reality wasn't.

No reason to listen to a guy who inexplicably cost them another 4M and hired Marrone. Cue the Brandon apologists, but if the last HC search was any indication, Brandon should stick to what he's done outside of football operations.

Nix started talking QB after it was clear in 2012 that Fitzpatrick wasn't getting this team further along. IIRC, it was about November 2012 or so.

Then what happened in 2010 when Nix was trying to hire a HC?

If HC's are wary of Manuel, then fans should be as well. Some will say he's raw, but after 2 years with an NFL organization that shouldn't be the case anymore. I get that some people refuse to believe EJ's not starting material, but after throwing more than 400 passes, he's about a 58% completion guy combined with a low yards per attempt (6.4 yards). Given these metrics, I don't think it's only a coaching thing with EJ. Coaching can only get him so far and these prospective HC's know this.

Outstanding analysis there. Russ apparently is still upset Eugene Parker made him look like a chump when he was GM (of football).

That Jimmy Sexton never stops planting false rumors. When the coaching musical chairs stops Marrone will be left standing. And there's nothing his agent can do about it.

Pittsburgh had 1 HC hired during his tenure there, and I'm sure Kevin Colbert didn't need someone from Pro Personnel assisting much. And here in Buffalo, it's been made clear that Brandon and Nix made the Marrone hire. No one's saying he hasn't worked in a NFL front office or that he hasn't handled pro personnel or amateur scouting. Just that he's not hired a HC before. It is obvious that, unlike when Brandon led the search in 2013, Whaley has lined up several qualified candidates for interviews.

The Bills need a lot more salvos fired in order to clear out the old guard though.

Lot of sophistry right there. The fact remains that the GM said they planned to make the playoffs (hence the Watkins trade) and they did not do so. The new narrative being pushed here is that it was Marrone and/or the staff (specifically offensive) for not having a better offense. Is there enough talent on offense right now to win? Because now the debate has devolved into blaming it entirely on coaches without much focus on talent. Whether or not players regress isn't necessarily a coaching thing anyway. Ever get behind in games and lose motivation? Because the Bills have had a lot of that over the years. I guess people forget the team has tried guys like Colin Brown, Kraig Urbik, Chris Williams, Cyril Richardson, and Erik Pears at guard in the past 2 years. Can coaching improve those guys to play against outstanding interior OL? Nah, couldn't be. When things go wrong, it's usually someone in management's fault. It's partially the fault of the coaches, but would there be as many issues if the team could have found decent guards and figured out the QB on the first shot? Probably not.

None of this has anything to do with Kouandjio and Manuel. The reality is, they added offensive coaching in 2014 to help Nate. Specifically, QB coach Todd Downing, Senior Offensive Assistant Jim Hostler, while retaining OL coach Pat Morris. And, they were in the 2nd year of whatever system they ran! It's sooooo convenient for people to blame Marrone now that he's gone. I get the guy was a jerk and probably not a good coach, but he was a symptom and not the disease here. Personnel acquired is the problem, and that's Whaley's thing. He's failed to build an OL, and even the guys Marrone finally had to play (Urbik) were mediocre. I guess people forget about Jim McNally, who, despite being a renowned OL coach, couldn't get much out of the OL circa 2007, save for Jason Peters (who was 2nd team All-Pro that year). You can have all the coaches in the world, but without some talent you're left hanging. And the talent in 2014 on the OL, specifically the interior, was severely lacking. That's on the guy trying to convince prospective HC's that Manuel needs more development.

Back into form CB. Did it really take more than 2 seasons to see that Blaine Gabbert wasn't good enough? Because if there's one guy I see who has EJ's career arc it's that guy. Why does a team need to wait 3 years before figuring a guy can play? Do you need to see miss on passes down-field and check down to backs and TE's? Heck, Buffalo's own WR's, Woods especially, were echoing this sentiment. For as good as this team has been finding defensive talent, they've done very little for offensive personnel. Well, aside from trading away their top pick in 2015, signing scrubs like Chris Williams, and trading for guys like Bryce Brown who couldn't supplant a RB 8 years older.

Manuel and Kouandjio.

Did we re-invade the Holy Land and I missed it?

Yep. And regardless of whom they report to, no one's going to take the job being hamstrung by an incompetent GM. It's scary the highest ranking football person in the organization, who the new owners are relying on to provide advice and lead a coaching search, traded away a first round pick when they were more than 1 player away, and has drafted what look like 2 busts within the first 2 rounds in his first two drafts. Unreal.

Does anyone remember 5 years ago the Bills getting turned down for interviews by the likes of Brian Schottenheimer, Jim Harbaugh, et al.? Now they're getting interviews, but as with back then, they still don't have a QB. And yet Whaley is insisting that they do or will have one for what I figure is one of if not two reasons: 1. He made the call on Manuel and league insiders know this. He's going to take the heat for it if Manuel doesn't develop and doesn't want someone who'll go another direction. I suspect he wants to use resources on the OL, perhaps RB, and TE and hope Manuel improves tremendously. 2. He doesn't see a way for them to get a better option this off-season. EJ's thrown 437 NFL passes. Coaching may not have been solid, but to lay the blame on Marrone (who's out the door making it convenient) is a cop-out. Manuel at his best cannot get this team to the playoffs. And it should be expected that Buffalo make the post-season in 2015. It'll be interesting to see who they end up with. Because career minded people like NFL DC/OC/HC's don't sign up for wet-nursing QB's.

Don't worry, it'll end in about 8 months. Then we can find out whether or not EJ is Akili Smith v2.0.

Ever heard of Norv Turner? Besides they had a new OC and scheme almost every year Smith was there. EJ lacks the things which can't be taught. Pocket presence, accuracy, and an ability to read defenses. Shanahan ain't got time for that.

And Wilfork sat down after achieving a performance incentive in his contract. Which one I'm not sure.

It's always best to stand pat and wait for the QB to come to you. Not having a first round pick means the Bills' leverage is severely weakened. It means they have almost no opportunity, short of trading their 2016 first rounder, to move up if a QB is available. I'm not saying one will be, but it also means they can't trade down to acquire extra picks either. When you mortgage your future, eventually the piper needs to be paid. Maybe there won't be a good QB available at 19. What I do know is the Bills have almost no shot at getting one between about the mid first round and deep into the second. That is, unless they want to trade more picks. From a strategic perspective the trade for Watkins made no sense, especially considering what they had at QB. Instant gratification fans will never see that though.

Is Mike Tomlinson related to LaDainian? If so I'd want the latter for RB coach.

I'm sorry but what team allows their 73 year old GM to pick a HC? And some ascribe the Bills not making the playoffs to bad luck. And why would Russ Brandon essentially abdicate this crucial decision to a guy everyone knew was out the door? Russ has never pushed off a decision he could make since being named CEO and later president. I would love for the next HC to have a close relationship with Whaley. The last coaches haven't, but I think that's more because personalities didn't mesh. And that's because the person hiring the GM and HC were hired by an amateur in Brandon.

At the end of the day Doug, can your thin skin endure the NYC media?

That Eugene Parker. 😉 Gotta hand it to him...he worked hard after getting paid and suffering a serious injury. There were many who didn't think he'd do that. Not Russ Brandons finest moment.