BillsVet

There's no need for an investigation. The drafts from 2006-10 were even worse than the preceding 5 seasons of TD.

If Spiller was good, how did Gailey not know it? His own RB coach has worked for the HC nearly every year since 2002 and I'm pretty sure Nix and Gailey watched plenty of film of Spiller over the last off-season. Spiller didn't get on the field because the HC didn't think he was ready and was OR the the player wasn't really ready and HC was correct. Regardless, it's an indictment of someone in the organization.

RB's taken in the top 10 should never need 2 seasons to adjust to the NFL. Ever. If that's the case, I seriously question the draft strategy and personnel evaluation of that team. Spiller would not have played much beyond the first 10 weeks had FJ not been injured. And now, the GM declares the guy is as talented as they thought and the HC says he will split carries with a more well-rounded RB in FJ. Coincidence or just the team in defense over a pick that hasn't produced until injuries struck? I'd go with the latter.

The selection of Spiller and subsequent use of the player is why Buffalo is forever rebuilding. How can a RB picked top 10 only get a total of 133 touches in 24 career games before FJ's injury be deemed a good pick for a rebuilding team? Either the player wasn't what they thought he was or the coaches not knowing how to employ him. If personnel identified the guy as being worthy of a top 10 pick, they had to believe he was capable of contributing immediately. Somewhere along the way, Gailey and his staff disagreed and made him a spare part. And now Nix says they always knew he could run between the tackles? If that's so, why couldn't the HC/OC figure a way to deploy both FJ and Spiller while the former was healthy? And why did it take an injury to get him on the field?

I'm not going to argue with you. You've been so frequently wrong on nearly every debate I've seen you enter in the past few years it's unfathomable. Besides, I'm still waiting for that baby. Two years of rebuilding and 10 wins. What's there to debate?

There's no question QB, pass rusher, LT, CB and WR are the premier positions in the NFL. In two years of rebuilding, Nix has found little if anything here, mostly taking what was handed to him and getting it to 10 wins total over that time.

FWIW, San Diego never used a first round pick on an OT during Nix's tenure in SD. It wasn't until 2006 when they used a second on Marcus McNeill and otherwise they never used anything before a fifth on an OT during his 8 years there. For all the credit people give Nix for the SD drafts, their picks in 2006-08 haven't been much. Nix basically equaled Marv/Modrak/Jauron/Brandon in the same time period.

The move to a 40 front has to be the result of tabbing Wannstedt DC and no one having the stones to tell Gailey that they've charted a course already. You have to wonder if Buddy's running anything but the scouts, because the scheme they draft for is dictated by the HC and new DC. If someone wants proof that this franchise is a sinking ship, look no further than the way they've handled defense this past decade. Average 34 in 2000, replaced by 43 with Gregg's hiring. Then go to a Tampa 2 when DJ takes over, followed by a move to a 34 with Nix/Gailey/Whaley in 2010. Now back to a 43. Four changes in 12 years if the latest happens, and needing 2 DE's seems to indicate that. Meanwhile, the Steelers have run a 34 for years and seem to do well stocking it.

If the Bills use the draft to fill their top needs this off-season, it's going to be another absence from the post-season. They've had 2 off-seasons to rebuild and banking on rookies is a recipe for failure, especially now that they're most likely going with a new base defense. The GM admitted they need another WR, OT, LB, corners, and 2 DE's. Needing that many pieces after those two off-seasons indicates they didn't accomplish as much as they'd like.

In theory the only reason any defense doesn't succeed is the talent. And trying to find 2 guys who can play with a hand in the ground or standing up is a very tall order. Denver has Dumervil and Von Miller, but most 40 fronts can't say the same. Baltimore runs Suggs out in a similar manner, and the Giants have a stable of them, but most teams don't. Finding one guy like this is tough, but two is a wish and a prayer. They don't want to admit their base package is returning to a 40 front, but I suspect it is. Three base defenses in 4 seasons.

Why does the team need 2 DE's if they're not switching to a 40 front? I know they continue to maintain the hybrid charade, but naming a guy as DC who's never coordinated anything but a 43 indicates that's the plan now. I don't care what percentage of time they have 4 DL, it's about their base package, which is probably now a 43.

Can't stay healthy, want him back. Claims Hairston can be serviceable and Pears is a good RT.

If a guy's there in free agency then we'll be aggressive.

I see you didn't read the post, as I mentioned that regardless of what happened, the Falcons organization is a better one and it didn't take long for that to be manifested in 2008. At this point, I'd take a post-season team that loses than one which keeps telling us a winning team is right around the corner. Instead, we're watching Detroit and Houston get into the playoffs while Buffalo continues on the treadmill of mediocrity.

Doesn't really matter to debate players, coaches, even front office staff in Buffalo until ownership changes. It's just funny to see fans predict things like Wannstedt becoming the new DC, SJ leaving in UFA to set them up to draft a replacement. They've played their cards and with other historic losing franchises winning, it's harder to cover up their losing.

Someone each year now from OBD tells Bills fans to be patient, that it takes 3-4 years to rebuild, or some variation thereof. Compare and contrast this sentiment with the Atlanta Falcons and their actions in 2007-08, especially those of their owner. During 2007, their QB was sent to prison, the HC resigned late in the regular season, and owner Arthur Blank was turned down when he sought out Bill Parcells to become head football man. Blank turned to Thomas Dimitoff from the NE Personnel tree, who in turn hired HC Mike Smith and drafted Matt Ryan third overall in the 2008 draft. The result was a team that went to the post-season in 2008, last year and again this season. Atlanta is 43-21 since the 2007 season, all while playing in a difficult NFCS. I say all this to illustrate that when an owner hires and subsequently supports a solid GM it shows a team can rebound rather quickly in today's NFL. And regardless of what happens today, teams like Atlanta are lapping the Bills and achieving success without having to tell fans to wait. Lastly, it should be noted that Atlanta, per Forbes' team values from 2010, isn't worth as much as one might think. They're a mere 2 spots above Buffalo in overall worth and finished with about 13M less in operating income. Meanwhile, the Bills keep banking on hype and hope to attract fans, because there's no commitment in the off-season and certainly not enough wins to show progress. EDIT: Tomorrow is reportedly the Bills "State of the Team" Speech from Buddy Nix. Somehow I get the feeling they'll talk about being patient or a similar point.

In other news, Marv Levy, Russ Brandon, and Buddy Nix will or haven't been employed by another NFL team in a Personnel role since their tenure or when their time with Buffalo is over. The issue isn't so much what a guy did or didn't do 6+ years ago, but rather Buffalo's management structure which does not empower their GM nor provides adequate resources to build teams. Free Agency this year will tell the story whether this team is focused on improving or not. I'm not a fan of hoping draft picks can play out of the box, which seems to be a hallmark of the Bills from 2006-present.

Here are some handy facts: 2009: 6-10 Overall, 2-4 Division 2010: 4-12 Overall, 1-5 Division 2011: 6-10 Overall, 1-5 Division For every item that suggests improvement, there's one of equal or greater value stating otherwise. The Bills are 2-10 in the division since the Nix/Gailey regime began. And if the easiest way into the post-season is to win your division, that's not cutting it. I can remember when people were ripping on the Dolphins for being so bad, yet they defeated Buffalo twice, as did the soap opera Jets. I would also argue the division is now weaker than it was in 2009-10 with the Jets getting older and not getting solid QB play. Miami are not world-beaters and NE's defense isn't as dominating anymore either. Still, there's Buffalo at the bottom of the division and out of the playoff picture by week 12.

How about stale?

The Peters saga may be over, but the Bills are again faced with keeping one of their own, though a UFA and not under contract as Peters was. The point remains that Buffalo allows talent to walk out the door more frequently, and those players go onto success elsewhere. Fletcher, Peters, Greer, Milloy, and now perhaps Stevie Johnson without any replacement behind them. Each and every player was a salary purge, replaced then or later with a draft pick who cost considerably less. This sort of "team-building" doesn't work and is in place only because the true objective of the team is to be set up for maximum return on their sale. Jason Peters had many negatives, not the least of which was his agent Eugene Parker. That said, the team was not justified, unless this was a financial purge, of jettisoning a top player at his position. If Stevie Johnson goes, nothing has changed at OBD in spite of the new GM. Nothing.

As long as we're comparing teams, Cincinnati versus Buffalo is what I would consider equally difficult conferences, how about this: Points Allowed: Cincinnati 323 Buffalo 434 Points Scored: Cincinnati 344 Buffalo 372 Point Differential: Cincinnati +21 Buffalo -62 Division Record: Cincinnati 2-4 Buffalo 1-5 Playoff Appearances since 2005: Cincinnati 3 Buffalo 0 Team Record: Cincinnati 9-7 Buffalo 6-10 5 year team record: Cincinnati 34-45-1 Buffalo 30-50 Hard to tell if the Bengals turned it around yet, but they received solid QB play from a rookie, have a veritable #1 WR, and a good but not outstanding defense. All of this is in spite of an owner who is among the worst in pro sports. For the Bills to win, they'll need to follow this blueprint, but early returns give Cincinnati a huge edge at this point.

From 6-10 to 4-12 and back to 6-10 again in their last three seasons. Higher standards are in order and losing 9 or more games 7 seasons in a row is unacceptable. Nice job tgreg.

Rather than discuss Peters as a top notch OLT, an analysis of that trade is overdue. The Bills dealt their starting OLT for a late first, fourth, and sixth round picks. Those players turned out to be Eric Wood, Shawn Nelson, and Danny Batten. One of those players starts at an easier to find position (center) while Nelson is out of the NFL, and Batten appears to be a role player. The real benefit was that Buffalo got out from having to pay a large salary to one of their best players, and replaced it three relatively small rookie deals. It's been more than four years since the Bills signed anyone to big money. I'm referring to Dockery and Schobel. Since that time they've signed a some moderate guaranteed money contracts like Fitzpatrick, K. Williams, McGee, Stroud, etc. but nothing like what Peters was demanding. And now, he lived up to it as an All-Pro and people continue lambasting the player. The move was a salary dump and the trade did not bring equal value to the team in personnel. Yet another Bills blunder. Is Stevie next, and if so, when they get nothing in return, it'll be another purge of salary.

I think Chan should have 10 years. Ralph's had 50 and delivered so little, so it's not absurd to give a HC 10 before we pass judgement. After all, 160 games is a better cross section to evaluate than only 32 or 48.

This. How are the Bills replacing 70 catches and 1000 yards receiving next season? David Clowney, Marcus Easley, and whatever draft pick in all probability aren't doing it. They got a bonus when a 7th rounder hit. Now they're losing that because he's due a larger contract. One step forward and two back - again.