BillsVet

How could they things get any worse? Besides, the attention is not out of tribute but to mock the dysfunctional state of a once proud franchise. That's how you know things are as bad as they can get.

A dose of reality here. GB converted to the 34 after firing Bob Sanders post 2008. He happens to be Buffalo's DL coach now. In 09, Mike McCarthy hired Dom Capers and Ted Thompson drafted Raji 9th and Matthews Jr. later in the first. If you want to criticize the Raji pick, well, DT's take time to develop not named Suh and who move to a new defense from college to the pros. Matthews Jr. was pegged by Thompson and that pick is looking outstanding 1.5 seasons in. So in the span of one year, the team drafted two essential pieces AND converted the remaining guys to that defense. Truly amazing. Could it be some synergy between the front office and coaching staff? Nah, couldn't be. The real problem with Buffalo is inferior decision makers from everyone in the front office on down to the position coaches. You can't point at one guy in that range and declare them at or near the top of their profession. Good players is a big part of it, but let's focus more on the people that pick them. Marv/DJ/Brandon et al are the big reason this team is devoid of talent and features a bunch of mediocre to average talent. You want better players? How about hiring proven talent evaluators who aren't RW's buddies.

Not all coaches are created equal, and when you've got an organizational reputation for winning, it's easier to attract top coordinators like Capers, Mike Nolan, et al. Buffalo ends up with previous DC failure George Edwards because no one wants to work here for an elderly owner who has a franchise that's lost 101 games since 2000. And credit GB and MIA for making switch to a 34 easier by investing high picks to fill it out. The Packers used their top 2 picks in 09 on true 34 players like Raji and Matthews Jr.

There's a youth movement afoot in Buffalo and it doesn't include guys like Merriman. Buddy Gailey like their guys and infusing the roster with formerly successful but finished veterans doesn't help the rebuild process.

Sometimes I think they are running OBD.

This thread is proof too many Gomer Pyle's have invaded TBD. And good thing we didn't get Mike Shanahan while we're at it.

They went hard after Shanahan. They went hard after Cowher and continued courting him into January. If one deals in absolutes as this board tends to do, there was no promise. But any fan who observed the post-DJ era (Nov through Jan) knows they wanted a big name and demonstrated this with their pursuit. Aside from some homers, most people were not thrilled with Nix or Gailey's hirings. They were the definition of underwhelming when viewed especially from the scope that they went after such bigger names only to be rejected.

Just 3 years ago RW personally demanded Buffalo draft Lynch. This came on the heels of trading McGahee and having no RB on the roster unless you count Shaud Williams. Same guy who ordered Wade to start Johnson. Same guy who re-signed OJ in 76 without telling Saban. Same guy who allowed Knox to leave. Same guy who fired Polian. Same guy who offered Butler GM minimum wage. RW may not have picked Spiller, but is it that outrageous to think he wanted someone to sell the franchise with given the front office's probable prediction that tickets wouldn't sell. After all, the fan base had almost been promised Shanahan or Cowher and got offensive genius Chan Gailey and former retiree Buddy Nix. Neither Jerry Jones nor RW have any track record of success without an actual football person. Jones without his former bud Jimmy Johnson and RW without Saban, Knox, Polian, or Butler have done nothing. Unfortunately their arrogance and stubborness interferes with keeping actual football people. I'd argue when Parcells went to MIA in 08 and took Sparano and Ireland with him that Jones' team didn't recover. RW's teams haven't recovered in 11 years after the last vestiges of the Polian years walked out the door.

Whaddya mean? Buddy said 10 months ago they weren't that far away!

"I know before I'm asked this, you're going to think I'm crazy, but we're not that far away." -Buddy Nix Is Buddy a congressman or something too?

The '10 Bills draft class is barely recognizable out there. Spiller's getting less than 10 touches per, Troup is a depth DT, Carrington rarely dresses, Moats gets some PT and the rest are injured or camp fodder. By comparison, KC has the following playing important roles: Eric Berry - starting SS Dexter McCluster - PR/WR/RB but injured today Javier Arenas - nickel CB Jon Asamoah - starting RG Tony Moeaki - starting TE 5 guys making contributions to that team is outstanding. Time will tell if they become long term starters, but that class could be very good in 1-2 years. Buffalo's can't even get on the field. No serious Bills fan can underestimate the importance of having great talent evaluators who develop a vision and stick to it. Give KC credit for hiring Pioli and revamping their organization. Buffalo can't even interview external candidates which is the tale of the tape for why this organization is organizationally dysfunctional.

How many hits does it take to knock out a starting QB? That Ole job Bell pulled against Hali is what OT's never should do regardless of whether the QB got killed or didn't. Howard was destroyed all day (cue the rookie reference) and Bell after 2.5 NFL seasons is slow footed, weak in run blocking, and takes too many penalties. Then again, expecting homers to know what a real OT looks like would be hard. They haven't had a legitimate NFL OT since 2008.

Can they cut the owner, team treasurer, director of college scouting, and senior vice president of football administration?

I guess if you have no expectations and simply declare it a rebuilding season this type of season isn't hard to take. Set the bar low and anything is acceptable.

It's kinda like when RW negotiated DJ's extension in October 08 and proceeded to watch the team go 2-8. Predictably, RW didn't fire DJ at the end of the season because it would be an admission of executive ineptitude. Not that we don't know already how bad RW when it comes to him making football decisions.

Modkins showed me this play when we were at Georgia Tech.

Is the goal to think positively or win games? You tell me.

Right, there aren't any OT's sitting on the street going to help now. But this is what happens (Cowboys too) when teams don't invest high picks in OT's, specifically OLT. You can't get away with throwing late rounders and UDFA's not named pre-unmotivated Jason Peters out there. Buffalo's OT's are the worst in the NFL.

You've got a lot of audacity to say this about a team without a playoff appearance in 10+ seasons, in their 3rd rebuild in a decade, is 0-7, and shows no sign of having the talent to win in the next 3 years according to the owner. Just wow.

Most of the pressure came from the outside. Tamba Hali abused both OT's all day because they both are not NFL caliber.

Howard was manhandled all day and has almost no ability in the phone booth. They can't run outside because the OT's are so bad. They must find 2 new OT's ASAP, and acquisitions like Cornell Green make the position worse.

It's this old time thing called tackling. And you don't have to use your helmet to do it.

He's playing in the wrong scheme. Both the 43 and 34 don't suit him.

And some thought DJ couldn't coach defense. Chan's defense is proving to be epic bad.

Well Ralph, plan on spending 50M+ for a QB regardless of today's result.