BillsVet

When #2 guys never get the top job, it's telling and not a matter of them being unlucky. People talk and talent is recognized. You don't see 60-70 year old guys getting their first HC job all that often in the NFL. Nix is a classic #2 guy who assists a GM, and he's been darn good at it. Promoting him to GM would be like DJ making Schonert OC: they're close, will work cheap, but haven't done the job before. Being GM is a heckuva lot different than running the college scouting department.

Long term planning, if Nix becomes GM, is something the Bills ignore. I think there's a reason behind it, but naming Marv GM, and (big if) Nix gets the job, where are they going. Ralph's 91, and he isn't making plans for 5 years from now. What's the long term vision of the franchise if Nix gets the job?

Why on all three points? 1. Modrak getting the job means status quo, no house-cleaning, and RW/Littman run the show. Besides, Modrak has refused offers to be the GM before. He likes being in FLA and acting as top scout. 2. Nix won't be controlling the purse strings. It's ironic that he's been in the NFL for a long time, and hasn't been promoted to being a GM. Now at 70 he's capable. K 3. He's a solid mind, but he won't have control over football operations. Promoting him would be the Bills saying their front office is good enough, which it isn't. Guy, Modrak, Overdorf, et al need to go.

If so, that's a quick analyzation of the team, and represents another move made with little long term planning involved. Marv's hiring had no succession plan in place, and having Nix fill the GM role isn't the answer. I know the guy has been a part of some good drafts, but 70 year olds are retired, front office execs and coaches, in the NFL.

RW has promised a full review of the team. I find it hard to believe they're promoting someone from within at this early juncture. Certainly not saying it can't happen, but IMO it's unlikely. Still, if there's a way to cue up some drama, it's called holding a PC on New Year's Eve Day.

Gotta love a good dumpster fire!

12/30-Bills issue statement declaring that Dick Jauron is retained for the 2009. Late Feb-Buffalo signs UFA QB Ryan Fitzpatrick and C Geoff Hangartner 3/2 -Buffalo signs UFA CB Drayton Florence 3/7 -Buffalo signs UFA WR Terrell Owens to one year contract 4/17-Buffalo trades LT Jason Peters to Philadelphia 4/25-NFL Draft; Bills uses first round picks on DE Aaron Maybin (11th) and G/C Eric Wooc (28th). Also selects S Jairus Byrd (42nd) and G Andy Levitre (51st) 7/27-Training camp begins at St. John Fisher 8/7 -First preseason game (HOF game) 8/21-DE Aaron Maybin signs contract after missing all of training camp 9/4- Bills fire OC Turk Schonert 9/14 -Bills lose on MNF when team yields 2 TD's in final minutes to New England 10/11-Bills lose one of the worst NFL games in 2009; a 6-3 loss at home to woeful Cleveland 10/18-Bills surprise Jets, after interception prone rookie QB Mark Sanchez tosses 5 picks 11/15-Jauron pulls starting QB Trent Edwards, who will not see field until being injured in Week 15. Ryan Fitzpatrick becomes the starter. 11/18-Owner Ralph Wilson fires HC Dick Jauron; Perry Fewell takes interim position 12/3 -Bills lose to Jets 19-13 in Toronto 12/27-Bills start former GB practice squad QB Brian Brohm against Falcons; 3rd QB to take meaningful snaps in 2009 Added Schonert and Maybin events. What is missing?

I think most Bills fans watch other NFL games. It's surprising to see basic things offensively that Buffalo does not do, or only recently has. Screen passes, slant patterns, putting a man in motion (only recently unveiled), the draw play, play action, et al. I'm not saying these things have never been run, but it's been very infrequent. That offense has never been anything but simple, regardless of the QB. I'll grant that neither Losman, Edwards, or Fitzpatrick are more that bad QB's, but I place more of the blame onto DJ for not being innovative or able to adapt to opposing defenses...EVER.

It's no coincidence that Fairchild's, Schonert's, and Van Pelt's offenses looked similar. I'm sure if one went back to John Shoop's offenses from 01-03 in Chicago that they weren't much different either. 4 OC's, 1 HC. It doesn't take a genius to see that DJ was the one telling them what kind of offense he wanted. That said, Schonert was a blowhard idiot ill-prepared to be a OC in the league after being a QB for so long.

It's typical Bills management that threw out garbage like Edwards calling Brandon or DJ to sign TO when it was RW all along telling Mr. Smithers what to do in March. Whether it's transactions like this, not admitting RW signed DJ to a contract in 08, or just wiping (amateurishly I might add) DJ from the team photo, this team comes off more like Barnum and Bailey than a NFL team.

Thanks for the summary. I've always wanted to re-watch the games but didn't have the time or resources to DVR them. The point about Stroud being blocked with one guy is reality. His name alone doesn't shed blocks and make plays at or near the LOS. I know the team is depleted, but heading into the season they failed to stock the roster as well as they should have. This is painfully true at LB, where Draft and N. Harris are starting. Neither are NFL caliber, well, at least Harris yet. The more I see PF coaching, the more his offenses, with AVP assisting, resemble DJ's. It really shouldn't come as a surprise, Brohm or not. Rarely are they imaginative nor do the vary things much more than run, run, pass. Isn't that what RW said about Fairchild's offenses two years ago?

Every big decision still goes through RW, and I'm sure people around the league know this. Granted very little is getting out, but it wouldn't surprise me to see them try to hire a HC like Fassel and not change the front office much. I'm sure they figure enough fans would be just happy to not have DJ or PF coaching this team. Problem is, this entire waste of a decade occurred because they made horrible personnel moves, and compounded that with either a bad GM or no GM. The fact that Brandon is leading the search tells me that they're hoping to get lucky, because Mr. Smithers has no idea what he's doing. And if I were asked to interview for GM, I would place considerations down first. As in: 1. Total control over all football operations 2. Report only to the owner and no one else 3. Approval to hire my own people without interference-HC, Pro Personnel, College Scouting, et al.

Because 70 year old men can handle 14-16 hour days, particularly from January through April. Nix sounds like a solid guy, but this is a job for someone who can put up with a lot of garbage. Namely, RW, Littman, and Mr. Smithers-Brandon.

Fear not, Russ Brandon is looking for a coach. This team does not need a GM, as evidenced by the past four seasons. Ralph, Littman, and Overdorf are handling that role.

I try to lighten up on the treadmill as much as I can after work.

Taking NE cast-offs historically works well for Buffalo. Seriously, Light is a name guy people recognize as going to Pro Bowls, but he's 30 and there's no salary cap next season. Were he to be available, I'd wonder first why Belichick is letting him go.

Here we go again. Another internet hero flexing some cyber muscles who wants to butt in and attempt to discredit someone who covers the team. Morons. I don't understand what you get out of ripping John for coming onto this board. If the guy leaves, it's idiots like you and spartacus who will be to blame. Real winners we got here sometimes.

Mike Nolan, Jim Haslett, Denny Green, and Jim Fassel are unacceptable. Three of those guys coached in the UFL this year, and Nolan is not the personality needed to be a HC in this league. He's fine as a DC, but there are tons of guys who couldn't go from being hot-shot coordinator to knowing how to handle both sides of the ball. Charlie Weis can go under this category right along with Romeo Crennel. The Bills are the type of the team that must be lucky when hiring GM's or HC's. If not, watch out.

I don't see them willing to find a strong GM type who'll run the show. Pursuing HC candidates before the GM search is dismaying, even though it's clear that's what is needed now. It's almost as if they're pursuing names in the way we on this board list players: TBD'er: Player A is good because I've heard of him. RW/Russ: Coach A is good because I've heard of him.

With a marketing guy leading the search and a 91 year old owner heading the team review, how can they possibly get it right? It's amateur hour at OBD, but they won't hire someone to consult for them. The guy isn't hired granted, and it's just a report, but if this is their thinking, it's another indication they have no clue.

LT's have to be physically a certain size to take on the top RDE's in the NFL and 6'2" O lineman with short arms do not play the position. It's why teams pay so much attention at the combine to something which seems inane like arm length. I think anyone with a pulse that follows this team knows you can't just plug anyone into the position and get even average results. And typically, NFL teams do not find them below the 2nd round in the draft, so finding them on the cheap a la Peters is not a route to count on.

Yeah, because it only seems like Tasker calls all the Bills games. Forgive a long term poster for confusing the broadcasting duo. BTW, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. 78 career sacks in 132 career games says the guy is doing what he needs to do for this team. And with 10 sacks in 2009, he says his skills are declining.

The question is why RW has permitted this to happen for so long. Next month's decision(s) or lack thereof will tell the story about whether they are interested in winning. Minus a GM who has complete football authority who can hire any HC he wants nothing will change. And while it's a pipe dream, I'd hope RW understands that Jeff Littman is doing him no favors from a football perspective. I'd bet Littman's presence alone is the one reason most people in league circles (Polian, Smith) have told others not to work there.

You're correct that it's the GM where things start. Atlanta hired Tom Dimitroff who hired the right HC, and picked the right QB. The Falcons aren't the top of the NFC, but they can be there with a few more players. I just think that RW is going to have to yield authority if he wants someone proven. Otherwise, they'll go with a hungry young guy who may not have the power he should have. Either way, the person needs to have a lot of energy, because they will be tasked with rebuilding a franchise with few building blocks.

Bill-you're going to have to be Father Merrin, given your age. I'm thinking that Wood, when he returns (and he will) should revert to playing C, with Incognito and Levitre the starting guards. It'll mean re-signing the volatile tattooed one, but it's a risk I'd take. Hangartner can be the principal backup interior OLineman. Schobel beat his man enough today to show he's recovered, which was a huge if entering the season. Hopefully the off-season will provide him sufficient rest, but they'll need to get someone who can not only be sold to RW and the fans, but the players as well. The Bills will need to get creative to find their next QB, with the FA options being underwhelming and the draft not featuring someone (at this point) I'd take with the 7th-10th pick.